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History Brief, by Johan Visschedijk

March 16, 2006

Junkers J 2


The Junkers J 2 was ordered as E II by Idflieg of the German War Office on January 31, 1916. Designed as a single-seat cantilever monoplane with semi-monocoque fuselage and stressed skin wings, it was the world's first all-metal fighter. Based on the J 1, it would be lighter, and therefore have improved climb performance. The first of six aircraft (c/n E250/16 to E255/16) was flown for the first time from the military airfield Döberitz (44 mile (70 km) west of Berlin) by Lt. Friedrich von Mallinkrodt on July 11, 1916.

The first flown aircraft E251/16 (E= Eindecker or monoplane; 251 = order number; 16 = year of construction 1916) was powered by the 120 hp Mercedes D II six-cylinder liquid-cooled in-line engine with a belly-mounted "Düsenkühler" or jet radiator. The armament consisted of one LMG 08/15 light machine gun. To protect the pilot a crash bar was fitted just behind the cockpit. The early flight test showed a better climb performance compared to the J 1, but the view from the cockpit was considered inadequate. It also revealed several problems with the flight controls, and, while in aerobatic maneuvers, the fuel supply was interrupted cutting the power plant.

In an effort to solve the problems the remaining five had several changes. Power came from the up-rated 160 hp Mercedes D III; the nose length, wing span, wing area and rudder area were increased. However, these alterations increased the all-up weight with 236 lb (107 kg) from 48.5 lb (22 kg) under the J 1 weight of 2,381 lb (1,080 kg) to 187.4 lb (85 kg) above the J 1 weight. This negatively influenced the maneuverability and climb performance.

The stall characteristics of the J2 were difficult to cope with, even to an experienced test pilot. On September 23, 1916, three days after its maiden flight, E252/16 stalled during slow flight trials at an altitude of 300m. The pilot Lt. Max Schade failed to regain control and crashed in Dessau sustaining fatal injuries. This crash extinguished the already faltering military support for the J 2; no further orders for the type were issued. On order of Prof. Junkers all work on the J 2 was terminated.

The early Junkers aircraft did get several nicknames: "Fliegende Konservenbüchse" ("Flying Tin Can"), "Fliegende Blechesel" ("Flying Tin Dunkey").

J 2 Nelson George Collection

Specifications

E251/16

E250/16, E252/16 to E255/16

Type:

Single-seat fighter aircraft

Single-seat fighter aircraft

Engine:

One 120 hp Mercedes D II six-cylinder in-line liquid-cooled engine

One 160 hp Mercedes D III six-cylinder in-line liquid-cooled engine

Span:

36 ft 1.1 in (11.00 m)

38 ft 4.6 in (11.70 m)

Length:

23 ft 11.4 in (7.30 m)

24 ft 4.5 in (7.43 m)

Height:

10 ft 3.2 in (3.13 m)

10 ft 3.2 in (3.13 m)

Wing area:

214 sq.ft (19.84 sq.m)

265 sq.ft (24.64 sq.m)

Empty Wt:

1,903 lb (863 kg)

2,244 lb (1.018 kg)

Max T/O Wt:

2,333 lb (1,058 kg)

2,568 lb (1,165 kg)

Max speed:

106 mph (170 km/h)

115 mph (185 km/h)

Max climb:

650 ft (198 m)/min

Service Ceiling:

13,123 ft (4,000 m)

Endurance:

1.5 hr

1.5 hr

Models

J 2:

6 built, E250/16 to E255/16