Junkers W 34

W 34
	Canadian Airways CF-ARI
Role	Transport
Manufacturer	Junkers
Designer	Herman Pohlman
Introduction	1926
Developed from	Junkers W 33
Developed into	Junkers Ju 46

The Junkers W 34 was a German-built, single-engine, passenger and transport aircraft. Developed in the 1920s, it was taken into service in 1926. The passenger version could take a pilot and five passengers. The aircraft was developed from the Junkers W 33. Further development led to the Junkers Ju 46.

Development - Historical Background

Historical Background:

Junkers W33 Prototype of 1926

The Junkers W33 was a direct modification of the Junkers F13 for cargo operations. The fuselage was lower than that of the F13 as there was no passenger compartment and the initial series did not have any windows in the cargo compartment. For combined cargo/passenger operations these windows were again introduced on later versions of the W33. The cargo loading could be performed through a side door or through a door in the cabin roof. On 17 June 1926 Zimmermann took to the air for the first flight of the Junkers W33 (c/n 794). The prototype was a seaplane version and the first flight was performed on the River Elbe at Leopoldshafen near Dessau.

A large number of W33 aircraft was ordered from Russia. The parts for these aircraft were built at Dessau and were shipped via Irkutsk to the Dobrolet repair station at Moscow, which performed final assembly from 1928 on. These W33s were used in Russia under the designation PS-3. They were used until 1941 for postal and cargo flights mainly in Siberia. In March 1933 the Dobroljot repair station at Irkutsk started the construction of a modified W33 without the support of Junkers. Until 1935 a total of at least nine of these so-called PS-4s were built at Irkutsk and Moscow. These PS-4 showed several differences to the original W33. Like the initial W33 of 1926, the PS-4 had no windows in the cargo compartment as it was used only as a freighter aircraft in Siberia.

Junkers W34 of 1926

The first W34 was first flown just a few weeks after the W33 on 7 July 1926 by Zimmermann. Both prototypes appeared nearly identical except for the different engines. Instead of the Junkers L5 inline engine of the W33, the W34 was equipped with a 353kW Gnome et Rhone Jupiter VI radial engine. While future developments of the W33 kept the Junkers engines, the W34 was offered with a wide variety of different air-cooled radial engines, which also influenced the outward appearance, dimensions, and performance of the W34. Also, the cabin roof was a little bit higher as on the W33, making the W34 more capable as a combined cargo and passenger airliner. Finally, the early serial production W34s also showed differences in the tail unit, which was larger than that of the W33.

Junkers / AFI K43 Prototype of 1930

While the W33/W34 civil aircraft could be built in Germany after the ban on Germany's aviation industry ended in 1926, Junkers was still forced to produce military derivatives of the designs outside of Germany. A military derivative of the W34 was built at A.B. Flygindustri at Limhamn in Sweden under the designator K43. The K43 was fitted with a dorsal machine gun mount at the rear part of the cabin. It could be used as a transport, but also as a light reconnaissance-bomber. At least 18 militarized K43 left Limhamn for Finland (6), Argentina (5), Portugal (5 seaplanes), Bolivia (several) and Chile. An additional 21 W33/W34 were built at Limhamn. Some of these were air ambulances and transports for military purposes. One W33g was sold to the Swedish Air Force in 1933 and designated as Trp 2. It was used until 1935 as an ambulance aircraft in Sweden. Two further W34h were used by the Swedish Air Force as Trp 2A between 1933 and 1945 for the same purpose.

Production and service

Junkers W33 / W34 see also: Junkers W33 Production List / Junkers W33 Survivor List / Junkers W33 Philatelic Items / Junkers W33 Model Kits

cantilever monoplane Cargo and Passenger Airliner, F/F 17 Jun 1926, 199 x W33, 100 x W34, 5 x Ju46 developed by Junkers Flugzeugwerke in Dessau by Pohlmann

W33/W34s were used for a wide area of utility purposes, i.e. as transport, reconnaissance or bomber aircraft, but also as ambulance and pest control aircraft. They were used by civil operators on all five continents. The Dessau W33 production line was stopped during 1932. At Limhamn some K43s were still built in 1933 when production was stopped there. The last W33s were built in Russia during late 1934 / early 1935. In 1933 Luftwaffe again ordered a larger number of W34s, which were delivered until 1935; mainly for training purposes, especially as navigator and W/T operator training. Some of these aircraft were later used during the Spanish Civil War by the Condor Legion. After the end of WWII, most W33/W34 were retired. The last W34 was a Canadian W34, which went out of service in 1961.

One Junkers W 34 be/b3e managed to break the then-current altitude record on 26 May 1929 when it reached 12,739 meters (41,795 feet). That aircraft carried the markings D-1119 and it was equipped with a Bristol Jupiter VII engine. The airplane was flown by Willi Neuenhofen.

The Junkers W 34 was manufactured in many different versions. The total production numbers for the civil market were around 1,000, a further 2,024 his and haus were built under license for the RLM and Luftwaffe. The unit price was between RM 65,000 and 70,400.

On 31 January 1944 the Luftwaffe still had 618 W 34hi's and 516 W 34haus in service: the majority were used by flight schools; mainly as navigator and radio operator training (3 or 4 navigator or radio-operator trainees).

The Junkers K.43, nicknamed the "Bush Bomber", was used extensively during the Chaco War (1932–1935) fought between Bolivia and Paraguay. See external links.

The Colombian Air Force used the W 34 and K-43 in the Colombia-Peru War in 1932–3.^[2]

The Swedish Air Force operated three W 33/34 between 1933 and 1953 in the transport and air ambulance roles, initially with the military designation Trp 2 and Trp 2A, eventually changed to Tp 2 and Tp 2A. One of these is preserved today in civilian colors as SE-BYA.

Production

W 34 hi: Junkers (105 aircraft built), Henschel (430), ATG (94), Dornier Wismar (58), HFB (69) and Weser (221).
W 34 hau: Henschel (329), Arado Brandenburg (205), ATG (105), Dornier Wismar (93), HFB (192) and MIAG Braunschweig (73).

Variants

W 34 a: 331 kW Gnome et Rhône 9A Jupiter engine, speed: 190 km/h, wingspan: 17.75 m and length 11.10 m
W 34 be: 375 kW Gnome et Rhône 9A Jupiter engine, speed: 230 km/h, wingspan: 17.75 m, length: 10.70 m
W 34 be/b3e: 441 kW Bristol Jupiter VII engine and was used for attempts to try breaking the world altitude record
W 34 ci: 405 kW Pratt & Whitney Hornet engine, speed: 245 km/h, equipped with cabin windows
W 34 di: like the W 34 ci, the engine was license produced by BMW.
W 34 f: 331 kW Gnome et Rhône 9A Jupiter engine, speed 190 km/h, wingspan 18.48 m, length 11.10 m, enclosed cockpit, ailerons were lengthened; the export version had a cargo door
W 34 f: experimental aircraft with floats
W 34 fa: passenger aircraft for export
W 34 fä: export aircraft
W 34 fo: export aircraft with a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine
W 34 fy: Armstrong Siddeley Panther engine
W 34 fao: 397 kW Siemens-Halske Sh 20 engine, only one was produced for tests with autopilot
W 34 fei: 441 kW Siemens-Halske Sh 20U engine, only one was produced as a maritime test aircraft
W 34 fg: Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar Major engine
W 34 fue: Pratt & Whitney Hornet engine, later rebuilt as a maritime aircraft.
W 34 fi: Pratt & Whitney or BMW built 405 kW Hornet; wingspan: 18.48 m, length 10.27 m, speed 260 km/h. The aircraft had an enclosed cockpit and low-pressure tires.
W 34 gi: 405 kW BMW Hornet, only one machine was produced in 1933 for tests
W 34 hi: 485 kW BMW 132A/E, the aircraft could take six passengers and was equipped with improved radio- and direction finders. This version was mostly used by Luftwaffe to train pilots and radio operators.
W 34 hau: similar to hi, but it had a 526 kW Bramo 322 H engine. The type was mostly used by Luftwaffe to train its pilots and radio operators.
K 43: Military W34, available in many of the above-mentioned versions.

Operators

Argentina

Argentine Air Force
Argentine Naval Aviation – 1 W34 purchased in 1934, used as trainer ^[3]

Australia

Bolivia

Bolivian Air Force

Brazil

Syndicato Condor – Serviços Aéreos Condor

Bulgaria

Bulgarian Air Force

Canada

Chile

Chilean Air Force

China

Chinese Nationalist Air Force

Colombia

Independent State of Croatia

Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države Hrvatske

Czechoslovakia

Czechoslovak Air Force

Finland

Germany

Luftwaffe

Norway

Royal Norwegian Air Force

Papua New Guinea
Portugal

Portuguese Army Aviation (Aeronáutica Militar) operated W 34L aircraft.
Forças Aéreas da Armada operated K 43W aircraft.

Slovakia

Slovak Air Force (1939–45)

Spanish State

Spanish Air Force

Sweden

Swedish Air Force

South Africa

South African Airways operated 2 aircraft.
South African Air Force

Venezuela

Venezuelan Air Force

Accidents and incidents

3 May 1934 (1934-05-03): a Syndicato Condor Junkers W-34, registration PP-CAR, crashed on landing at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Two crew members died. The plane was repaired and later suffered a second accident in 1944.^[5]
24 February 1942 (1942-02-24): a Syndicato Condor Junkers W-34, registration P-BAOA/PP-CAO, crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Riachão, Maranhão. Two crew members died.^[5]
16 April 1944 (1944-04-16): PP-CAR, the same Junkers W-34 involved in the 1934 accident, this time operating for Cruzeiro do Sul, crashed during an emergency landing at Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport. Two crew members died.^[5]

Specifications (W 34he landplane)

Data from Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945 Vol.3 – Flugzeugtypen Henschel-Messerschmitt^[6], Junkers aircraft and engines, 1913-1945^[7], German aircraft of the Second World War^[8], German Combat Aircraft^[9]

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Capacity: 6 pax
Length: 10.27 m (33 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 18.48 m (60 ft 8 in)
Height: 3.53 m (11 ft 7 in)
Wing area: 44 m² (470 sq ft)
Empty weight: 1,700 kg (3,748 lb)
Gross weight: 3,200 kg (7,055 lb)
Fuel capacity: 477 L (126 US gal; 105 imp gal)
Powerplant: 1 × BMW 132A 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 480 kW (650 hp) (660 PS)
Propellers: 2-bladed metal fixed-pitch propeller, 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in) diameter

Performance

Maximum speed: 265 km/h (165 mph, 143 kn) at sea level
Cruise speed: 233 km/h (145 mph, 126 kn)
Landing speed: 116 km/h (72 mph; 63 kn)
Range: 900 km (560 mi, 490 nmi)
Service ceiling: 6,300 m (20,700 ft)
Rate of climb: 5.25 m/s (1,033 ft/min)
Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 3 minute 12 seconds

Armament

2x 7.92 mm (0.312 in) machine guns (dorsal) and 1x 7.92 mm (0.312 in) machine gun (ventral)
6x 50 kg (110 lb) bombs (300Kg total)

References

^ Zoeller, Horst. "Junkers – Who is Who?". Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved 2016-06-22. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ von Rauch, Georg (December 1984). "A South American Air War...The Leticia Conflict". Air Enthusiast (26): 1–8. ISSN 0143-5450.
^ "Historia y Arqueologia Marítima : AVIONES DE ENTRENAMIENTO DE LA AVIACION NAVAL " JUNKERS W-34 "". histarmar (in Spanish). Buenos Aires. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
^ Grant, Robert S. (March 2004). "Metal Marvels: Junkers W33s and W34s in the Canadian Bush". Air Enthusiast (110). Stamford Lincs, UK: 70–75. ISSN 0143-5450.
^ ^a ^b ^c Pereira, Aldo (1987). Breve história da aviação comercial brasileira (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Europa Empresa Gráfica e Editora. p. 131.
^ Nowarra, Heinz J. (1993). Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945 Vol.3 – Flugzeugtypen Henschel-Messerschmitt (in German). Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe Verlag. pp. 53, 262–263. ISBN 978-3-7637-5467-0.
^ Kay, Anthony L. (2004). Junkers aircraft and engines, 1913-1945 (1st ed.). London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. pp. 190–197. ISBN 0851779859.
^ Smith, J.R.; Kay, Anthony L. (1990). German aircraft of the Second World War (7th impression ed.). London: Putnam. pp. 185–186. ISBN 0851778364.
^ Wagner, Ray; Nowarra, Heinz J. (1971). German Combat Aircraft. New York: Doubleday.

External links

id=vuQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA626&dq=Popular+Mechanics+1931+curtiss&hl=en&ei=sZj0TNiVFcPXngeTp8W2CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Popular%20Mechanics%201931%20curtiss&f=true "Flyers Of The Sea", October 1931, Popular Mechanics]

[1] Zoeller, Horst. "Junkers – Who is Who?". Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved 2016-06-22. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[Leticia-2] von Rauch, Georg (December 1984). "A South American Air War...The Leticia Conflict". Air Enthusiast (26): 1–8. ISSN 0143-5450.

[histarmar-3] "Historia y Arqueologia Marítima : AVIONES DE ENTRENAMIENTO DE LA AVIACION NAVAL " JUNKERS W-34 "". histarmar (in Spanish). Buenos Aires. Retrieved 26 April 2019.

[Grant-4] Grant, Robert S. (March 2004). "Metal Marvels: Junkers W33s and W34s in the Canadian Bush". Air Enthusiast (110). Stamford Lincs, UK: 70–75. ISSN 0143-5450.

[Pereira_1987_131-5] Pereira, Aldo (1987). Breve história da aviação comercial brasileira (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Europa Empresa Gráfica e Editora. p. 131.

[Nowarra-6] Nowarra, Heinz J. (1993). Die Deutsche Luftrüstung 1933–1945 Vol.3 – Flugzeugtypen Henschel-Messerschmitt (in German). Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe Verlag. pp. 53, 262–263. ISBN 978-3-7637-5467-0.

[Kay-7] Kay, Anthony L. (2004). Junkers aircraft and engines, 1913-1945 (1st ed.). London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. pp. 190–197. ISBN 0851779859.

[Smith-8] Smith, J.R.; Kay, Anthony L. (1990). German aircraft of the Second World War (7th impression ed.). London: Putnam. pp. 185–186. ISBN 0851778364.

[WagNow-9] Wagner, Ray; Nowarra, Heinz J. (1971). German Combat Aircraft. New York: Doubleday.

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v t e Junkers aircraft
Company designations	J 1 J 2 J 3 J 4 J 5 J 6 J 7 J 8 J 9 J 10 J 11 J 12 F 13 J 15 K 16 K 17 J 18 T 19 A 20 H 21 / J 21 / T 21 J 22 T 23 G 23 F 24 / G 24 A 25 T 26 T 27 J 28 T 29 K 30 G 31 A 32 W 33 W 34 A 35 S 36 K 37 G 38 K 39 K 47 A 48 J 49 A 50 K 51 K 53 K 85
Company EF designations (experimental aircraft)	EF 29 EF 31 EF 52 EF 61 EF 72 EF 73 EF 74 EF 77 EF 94 EF 126 EF 127 EF 128 EF 130 EF 131 EF 132 EF 140 EF 150
Idflieg designations	CL.I CLS.I D.I E.I E.I (2) J.I
RLM designations	Ju 46 Ju 49 Ju 52 Ju 60 Ju 85 Ju 86 Ju 87 Ju 88 Ju 89 Ju 90 Ju 160 Ju 187 Ju 188 Ju 248 Ju 252 Ju 268 Ju 287 Ju 288 Ju 290 Ju 322 Ju 352 Ju 388 Ju 390 Ju 452 Ju 488 Ju 635

v t e Reich Air Ministry (RLM) aircraft designations (list)
1 to 100	8-1¹ Fi 2 8-3¹ 8-4¹ Fi 5 DFS 6 8-7¹ Gö 8 Gö 9 Do 10 Do 11/Wn 11 8-12⁴/Do 12 Do 13 Do 14 Do 15 Do 16/Wn 16 Do 17 Do 18 Do 19 Do 20 8-21¹ Do 22 Do 23 Do 24 Do 25³/Kl 25 Do 26/Kl 26 8-27/Do 27³/Kl 27⁵ 8-28¹ 8-29/Do 29 Fw 30 Kl 31 Kl 32 Ju 33 Ju 34 Kl 35 Kl 36 He 37³ He 38/Ju 38 DFS 39 BV 40/DFS 40 He 41³ Fw 42/He 42 Fw 43 Fw 44 He 45 He 46/Ju 46 Fw 47/He 47 Ju 48 He 49/Ju 49 He 50/Ju 50 He 51 He 52/Ju 52 Ju 53 DFS 54/NR 54 Fw 55/NR 55 Fw 56 8-57⁴/Fw 57 Fw 58/He 58 He 59 He 60/Ju 60 Fa 61/Fw 61/He 61 Fw 62/He 62 8-63⁴/He 63 Ar 64/He 64 Ar 65/He 65 Ar 66/He 66 Ar 67 Ar 68 Ar 69 He 70 8-71⁴/He 71 He 72 He 73³ He 74 Al 75 Ar 76/FZG 76⁶ Ar 77 Ar 78³ Ar 79 Ar 80 Ar 81 8-82⁴ 8-83¹ Al 84 Ju 85 Ju 86 Ju 87 Ju 88 Ju 89 Ju 90 Ju 91³ Ju 92 Ju 93³ Ju 94³ Ar 95 Ar 96 Fi 97 Fi 98 Fi 99 Fi 100³/He 100
101 to 200	Al 101 Al 102 Al 103/Fi 103 R Fh 104 Kl 105 Kl 106 Kl 107 Bf 108 Bf 109/Bf 109R⁶ Bf 110 He 111/He 111U⁶ He 112 He 113⁶ He 114 He 115 He 116 He 117³/Hs 117 He 118 He 119 He 120 Hs 121 Hs 122 Hs 123 Hs 124 Hs 125 Hs 126 Hs 127 Hs 128 Hs 129 Hs 130 Bü 131 Bü 132³/Hs 132 Bü 133 Bü 134 Ha 135 Ha 136/Hü 136 Ha 137 BV 138 Ha 139 Ha 140 BV 141 BV 142 BV 143 BV 144 Go 145 Go 146 Go 147/Ju 147 Go 148³ Go 149 Go 150 Kl 151 Kl 152/Ta 152 Kl 153³/Ta 153 Kl 154³/Ta 154 BV 155/Kl 155³/Me 155 Fi 156 Fi 157 Fi 158 Fw 159 Ju 160 Bf 161 Bf 162/He 162 Bf 163/Li 163/Me 163 Me 164/MeC 164 Bf 165 Fi 166/FK 166 Fi 167 Fi 168 Fi 169³ He 170 He 171³ He 172 He 173³ He 174³ 8-175⁴ He 176 He 177 He 178 He 179⁵ Bü 180/He 180 Bü 181 Bü 182 Bü 183³/Ta 183 Fl 184 Fl 185 Fw 186/Ju 186 Fw 187/Ju 187² Fw 188³/Ju 188 Fw 189 Fw 190 Fw 191 Ao 192 Ao 193³/DFS 193 DFS 194/Me 194 Ar 195 Ar 196 Ar 197 Ar 198 Ar 199/FiSk 199 Do 200^4,6/Fw 200
201 to 300	Si 201 Si 202 DFS 203 Si 204 8-205¹ Fw 206 8-207¹ Me 208 Me 209 (I)/Me 209 (II) Me 210 Hü 211 8-212⁴/Do 212 8-213¹ Do 214 Do 215 Do 216 Do 217/Hs 217 Do 218³ He 219 He 220 Do 221³ BV 222 Fa 223 Fa 224 Ao 225/Fa 225 BV 226/Ho 226 FGP 227 DFS 228 Go 229/Ho 229 8-230/DFS 230 Ar 231 Ar 232 Ar 233 Ar 234 Do 235⁵ Fa 236³ BV 237 BV 238 8-239¹ Ar 240 Go 241 Go 242 Me 243³ Go 244 Go 245³ BV 246 8-247¹ Ju 248 BV 250/Ho 250 Ho 251 Ho 252 Ju 252 Fi 253/Ho 253 Ho 254/Ta 254 8-255¹ Fi 256 SK 257 8-258¹ Fw 259 8-260¹ Me 261/Me 261w Me 262 Me 263 (1941)/Me 263 (1942)/Me 263 (1945) Me 264 Fl 265/Me 265 Fa 266/Go 266³ Ho 267 Ju 268 Fa 269 He 270 We 271 He 272³ He 273³ He 274 He 275⁵ He 276³ He 277 He 278 He 279³ He 280 He 281³ Fl 282 Fa 283 Fa 284 Fl 285 Ju 286 Ju 287 Do 288^4,6/Ju 288 Ju 289³ Ju 290 Hs 291 As 292/Hs 292³ Hs 293 Hs 294 Hs 295 Ar 296/Hs 296 Hs 297 Hs 298 Ju 299³ Fw 300
301 to 349	DFS 301 8-302¹ 8-303¹ 8-304¹ 8-305¹ 8-306¹ 8-307¹ 8-308¹ Me 309 Zwilling Me 310 8-311¹ 8-312¹ 8-313⁴ 8-314¹ Hs 315 8-316¹ Do 317 Do 318 He 319 Me 320³ Me 321 Ju 322 Me 323/ZMe 323 8-324¹ Fa 325/Fw 325³ 8-326¹ Me 327 Me 328 Me 329 Fa 330 DFS 331 DFS 332 Fi 333 Ar 334³/Me 334 Do 335 Fa 336 Ju 337³ 8-338¹ Fl 339 Ar 340 8-341 WNF 342 He 343 Rk 344/So 344⁵ Go 345 DFS 346 Rk 347 8-348¹ Ba 349
Post-349 (non-sequential)	Ju 352 Fi 356/Ju 356 Me 362 Me 364² Me 368³ Ju 388 Ju 390 Fw 391 Ar 393³ Ar 396 Ta 400 Me 409 Me 410 Do 417 He 419 ZMe 423 Ar 430/Ka 430 Ar 432 Do 435 Ar 440 8-445⁴ DFS 446 Ju 452 Me 462² DFS 468 Ju 488 Fw 491 He 500 Me 509 Me 510 He 519 8-520⁴ ZSO 523 Ar 532 8-534⁴ Do 535/He 535 Me 600² Me 609 Ar 632 Do 635/He 635/Ju 635
¹ Not assigned ² Unofficial/proposed ³ Assigned, but not used before RLM was dissolved ⁴ Assigned to captured aircraft ⁵ Unconfirmed ⁶ Propaganda/cover designation Note: Official RLM designations had the prefix "8-", but this was usually dropped and replaced with the manufacturer's prefix.