Junkers J.I

From Wings of Linen
Junkers J.I
Role Ground Attack
Manufacturer Junkers
Designer Hugo Junkers
First flight 27 Jan 1917[1]
Introduction 1 Aug 1917[2]
Primary user Germany
Number built 227
Wingspan 16.0 m (52 ft 5 in) [3]
Engine 200hp Benz Bz.IV inline
Armament 1 flexible rear Parabellum LMG 14
Ammo 4 drums of 200-250 rounds[4]
Crew 2
Max Speed 155 km/h (96 mph)[5][6][7][3]
Climb 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in 12:30[7]
2,000 m (6,560 ft) in 32:00[5][3] or 33:48[7]
3,000 m (9,840 ft) in 77:00[7]
Range 310 km (190 mi)[6][3]
Endurance ~2:00 [5]

Two-hundred twenty-seven Junkers J.I ground-attack aeroplanes were completed in 1917-1918. The armored "bathtub" protecting the crew, engine, and fuel, the duralumin skin, and the internal wing bracing made it a superbly robust low-level aircraft. Only the engine bearers were made of wood (in order to reduce vibration). Though experiments were made with downward-firing fixed guns and cannons, the plane was already enough for a 200hp engine to push around and the single Parabellum plus grenades remained standard.

Once the plane reached the front, it was known to come back with dozens of holes through the wings, tail, and rear fuselage that the aircraft easily ignored. On some missions the J.I was accompanied by higher-flying CL-Class planes for protection, but for basic ground contact and enemy identification it frequently flew alone or with another J.I.[8]

The flight controls were all enclosed in the fuselage and consisted of cranks and push rods rather than the conventional cables, adding to the J.I's resistance to small-arms fire.[9]

Since the design was so unusual and the Junkers factory was fairly inexperienced, production levels were never as high as hoped.

For more information, see Wikipedia:Junkers J.I.

Timeline [note 1]

Game Data

Wings of Glory

Official Stats
Availability Maneuver Damage Dmg Points Max Alt. Climb
18Q1-18Q4 Y -/B 20 9 8

Plane and Crew Cards

Card Links

Blue Max/Canvas Eagles

Aircraft Chart

Miniatures and Models

1:144 Scale

1:200 Scale

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

1:350 Scale

Resources

Orthographic Drawings

References

Notes
  1. ↑ German numbers are from bi-monthly Frontbestand records (Effective Frontline Strength).[10]
Citations
  1. ↑ Grosz'93, p.3.
  2. ↑ Grosz'93, p.4.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Lamberton, pp.222-223.
  4. ↑ Kelly, p.231.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Gray, p.157.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Munson, p.47.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Grosz'99, p.52.
  8. ↑ Herris, p.62.
  9. ↑ Gray, p.156.
  10. ↑ Grosz'85, p.60 and Grosz'86, p.66.
Bibliography
  • Peter Gray and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. Great Britain, Putnam, 1962, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-809-7.
  • Peter M. Grosz, "Archiv -- Frontbestand". WW1 Aero, № 107, Dec 1985 and № 108, Feb 1986. Poughkeepsie, NY: World War I Aeroplanes, Inc.
  • P.M. Grosz, Windsock Datafile 39: Junkers J.I. Great Britain, Albatros Publications Ltd., 1993. ISBN 0-948414-49-9
  • Jack Herris, German Armored Warplanes of WWI. USA: Aeronaut Books, 2012. ISBN 978-1-935881-11-7
  • Kevin Kelly, "Belts and Drums: A Survey of First World War Aircraft Ammunition Totals". Over the Front, Vol. 5, No. 3, Autumn 1990. Walsworth Publishing Co, Inc. and The League of World War I Aviation Historians.
  • W.M. Lamberton and E.F. Cheesman, Reconnaissance & Bomber Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Great Britain: Harleyford Publications Ltd., 1962. ISBN 9780900435027
  • Kenneth Munson, Bombers: Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft, 1914-1919. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1968, Blandford Press Ltd. ISBN 978-0753721711
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