Junkers J.I

J.I
Role	Observation and ground-attack aircraft
Manufacturer	Junkers
Designed by	Otto Mader
First flight	early 1917
Status	Retired
Primary user	Luftstreitkräfte
Number built	227

The Junkers J.I (manufacturer's designation J 4, not to be confused with the earlier, pioneering J 1 all-metal monoplane of 1915/16) was a German "J-class" armored sesquiplane format warplane of World War I, developed for low-level observation and ground-attack. It is especially noteworthy as being the first all-metal aircraft to enter mass production. It was a slow aircraft, but its metal construction and heavy armour, which comprised an extremely advanced, single-unit armoured "bathtub" that ran from just behind the propeller to the rear crew position, and acted both as the main fuselage structure and engine mounting setup in one unit, was an effective shield against anti-aircraft artillery.

Development

The only surviving Junkers J.I

The experimental developments were interrupted by the breakout of World War I in August 1914. In May 1915, Junkers achieved a test order for the further development of his all-metal aircraft by the German War Ministry, when delegates of this Ministry visited the Dessau "Jco" (Junkers Company) plants. In September 1915, the production of the J 1 pioneering all-metal monoplane prototype began at Dessau, and at the beginning of December 1915, the first Junkers aircraft was finished.

Operational history

It was well-liked by its crews, although its ponderous performance earned it the nickname "Furniture Van". They were used on the Western Front during the Kaiserschlacht {Kaiser's Battle} of March 1918. There were 227 J.Is manufactured during the war.

Operators

 German Empire

• Luftstreitkräfte

Survivors

Only one relatively complete aircraft survived, bearing German military serial number J.I 586/17 and preserved at the Canada Aviation Museum in Ottawa.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: Two, pilot and observer
• Length: 9.1 m (29 ft 10 in)
• Wingspan: 16.00 m (52 ft 6 in)
• Height: 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 49.4 m² (531 ft²)
• Empty weight: 1,766 kg (3,893 lb)
• Gross weight: 2,140 kg (4,718 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Benz Bz.IV, 149 kW (200 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 155 km/h (97 mph)
• Range: 310 km (193 miles)
• Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,123 ft)

Armament

• 2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) LMG 08/15 machine guns
• 1 × trainable, rearward-firing 7.92 mm (.312 in) Parabellum MG14 machine gun

See also

• Media related to Junkers J.I at Wikimedia Commons

• Junkers
• World War I
  

Comparable aircraft

• AEG J.I
• AEG J.II
• Albatros J.I
• Albatros J.II
  

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 538. 
• Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1919, p. 320a-321a
• World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 898 Sheet 01. 
• Junkers J1 at the Canada Aviation Museum

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