Junkers A50
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| A50 | |
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| Type | Sports plane |
| Manufacturer | Junkers |
| Designed by | Hermann Pohlmann |
| Maiden flight | February 13, 1929 |
| Number built | 69 |
The Junkers A50 was a German sports plane of 1930s, also called the A50 Junior.
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[edit] Development
The Junkers A50 was the first sportsplane designed by Hermann Pohlmann in Junkers works. It had the same modern all-metal construction, covered with duralumin sheet, as larger Junkers passenger planes. The first flight of the A50 took place on 13 February 1929. It was followed by further four prototypes, in order to test different engines.
Junkers expected to produce 5,000 aircraft, but stopped after manufacturing only 69, of which only 50 were sold. Apart from Germany, they were used in several other countries and some were used by airlines. Starting from the A50ce variant, the wings could be folded for easier transport.
Three German A50 took part in the Challenge 1929 international touring plane competition in July, taking 11th place (A50be, pilot Waldemar Roeder) and 17th place. Three A50 took part also in the Challenge 1930 next year, taking 15th (A50ce, pilot Johann Risztics), 27th and 29th places. In June 1930 a series of eight FAI world records for altitude, range and average speed were set on a floatplane variant of A50 with the Armstrong Siddeley 59 kW (79 hp)engine. In 1931 Marga von Etzdorf flew an A50 solo from Berlin to Tokyo, the first woman to do so.
[edit] Variants
- A50 - Armstrong Siddeley Genet 59 kW radial engine
- A50ba - Walter 59 kW engine (one built)
- A50be - Armstrong Siddeley Genet 59 kW engine
- A50ce - Armstrong Siddeley Genet II 63 kW engine or for export Genet Major I 74 kW, folding wings
- A50ci - Siemens-Halske Sh 13, 65 kW radial engine, folding wings
- A50fe - Armstrong Siddeley Genet II, 63 kW engine, modified airframe, folding wings
Due to their construction, the A50 were durable aircraft and they lasted long in service. There is one A50 preserved in Deutsches Museum in Munich and another in Helsinki airport. One A50 is in airworthy condition in Australia.
[edit] Description
Metal construction sports plane, conventional in layout, with low wings, duralumin covered. Crew of two, sitting in tandem in separate open cockpits (if it flew without a passenger, one cockpit could be closed with a cover). Two-blade propeller. Conventional fixed landing gear, with a rear skid. Fuel tank 95 l.
[edit] Operators
Australia
Brazil
Finland.svg/22px-Flag_of_Germany_(2-3).svg.png)
Germany
Japan
Portugal
South Africa: South African Air Force
Switzerland
United Kingdom
[edit] Specifications (A50)
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Length: 7.12 m (23 ft 4 in)
- Wingspan: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
- Height: 2.40 m (7 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 13.7 m² (147.4 ft²)
- Empty weight: 373 kg (820 lb)
- Loaded weight: 600 kg (1,320 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Armstrong Siddeley Genet radial engine, 59 kW (79 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 172 km/h (107 mph)
- Service ceiling 4,600 m (1,288 ft)
[edit] See also
Comparable aircraft
- BFW M.23
[edit] External links
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