Junkers Ju 160
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1895 |
| Headquarters | Germany |
The Junkers Ju 160 was a German single-engine, low-wing passenger plane manufactured by Junkers. It was developed as an advancement of the Junkers Ju 60 to compete in the fast airliner segment against models like the Heinkel He 70 Blitz and Lockheed Model 9 Orion. After the Ju 60 did not satisfy performance requirements set by Deutsche Lufthansa, Junkers introduced the enhanced Ju 160 in 1934. Designed to accommodate six passengers and a two-person crew, it incorporated a redesigned wing, a more powerful engine, and streamlined aerodynamics including landing gear that retracted inward. The initial prototype was adapted from the existing Ju 60 production.
At least twenty Ju 160s were operated by Deutsche Lufthansa, mainly serving domestic air routes. Other operators included Weser Flugbau and an airline based in Manchuria. Entering service in 1935, the Ju 160 continued flying on Lufthansa routes until at least 1941. Following the start of World War II, most German civil Ju 160s were requisitioned by the Luftwaffe for roles such as communication duties and pilot training.
Design and development
The Ju 160 originated as a direct evolution of the earlier Junkers Ju 60, which had been developed to counter competition from the American Lockheed Model 9 Orion entering European markets. Although Deutsche Lufthansa tested the Ju 60, only two units were completed because it did not achieve speeds comparable to competitors like the Heinkel He 70 Blitz. In response, Junkers initiated design of a superior model, the Ju 160, in 1934.
Retaining Junkers’ signature low-wing cantilever configuration, the Ju 160 featured aerodynamic improvements and was powered by an upgraded BMW 132A radial engine producing up to 490 kW (660 hp), resulting in a top speed increase of approximately 72 km/h (45 mph) over its predecessor. The new wing design included a swept leading edge and a straight trailing edge with combined ailerons and flaps forming a double-wing mechanism. Constructed around twin spars and covered with smooth duralumin panels, this replaced the corrugated skin characteristic of the Ju 60.
Externally, the Ju 160 had three cabin windows on each side instead of four found on the Ju 60, and utilized an inward-retracting main landing gear system. The cockpit was more seamlessly integrated into the fuselage and housed a pilot alongside a radio operator seated in tandem within an enclosed cabin. While typically operated by a single pilot, controls were installed allowing for an additional pilot to occupy the starboard seat.
The first prototype (V1), bearing registration D-UNOR, was converted from the Ju 60 production line and underwent trials with Deutsche Lufthansa. Later prototypes incorporated modifications such as an increased wing chord, reduced rudder height, faired tailwheel, and minor adjustments to door design. A military variant was also developed as the second prototype (V2).
Civilian production models carried the designation Ju 160A-0.
Operational history
A total of 47 Ju 160 aircraft were manufactured, including prototypes. The main commercial user was Deutsch Lufthansa, which acquired no fewer than 20 production models. In 1935, the airline deployed the Ju 160 across 13 domestic routes along with several international connections, such as the service between Breslau and Prague. The Ju 160 continued to operate on the high-speed Berlin to Vienna route until 1941. One plane initially flown by Lufthansa's Eurasia subsidiary suffered a crash in Shanghai, but after repairs in Germany, it was reintegrated into Deutsch Lufthansa's fleet. The initial batch of 11 Ju 160s delivered to Lufthansa in 1935 were A-0 variants, followed by 10 D-0 models in 1936 that incorporated larger cockpit windows and enhancements for crew comfort. Weser Flugbau operated a former Lufthansa aircraft, and two Ju 160s were registered in Manchuria, with one eventually transferring to Japan.
The German Research Institute for Aviation (Deutsche Versuchsanstalt fur Luftfahrt e.V.) managed four Ju 160s, while five additional units were assigned to the Flight Research Centre (E-Stelle) at Travemünde. The majority of the remaining aircraft were military adaptations. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, all surviving civilian Ju 160s within Germany were requisitioned for Luftwaffe service, primarily used for training and communication roles.
Operators
- Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service designated as "LXJ"
Bibliography
- Turner, P. StJ. & Nowarra, N. Junkers: an aircraft album (1971). New York: Arco Publishing Co, Inc.
Further reading
- Andersson, Lennart. "Chinese 'Junks': Junkers Aircraft Exports to China 1925-1940". Air Enthusiast, No. 55, Autumn 1994, pp. 2–7.