Junkers A 32

A 32 and K 39

National origin: Germany
Manufacturer: Junkers
Designed by: Ernst Zindel
First flight: 1926
Number built: 2

The Junkers A 32 was a mail plane built in prototype form in Germany in the late 1920s, and later developed as a prototype reconnaissance-bomber under the designation K 39. The design was a conventional low-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed tailskid undercarriage. Construction was metal throughout, with corrugated duralumin skin. Three open cockpits were provided in tandem; the third seat intended from the outset to accommodate a tail gunner for a military version of the aircraft. In fact, the militarised version developed in Sweden by AB Flygindustri featured a fourth crew position as well, for a bombardier. This version featured twin machine guns built into the engine cowling, and a trainable machine gun for the tail gunner.

Only two A 32s were built, and the first prototype was destroyed in a crash on 2 November 1927 that killed Junkers engineer Karl Plauth. The sole K 39 constructed may have been modified from the second prototype. No sales of either the civil or military version ensued.

Specifications (K 39)

General characteristics

Crew: Four - pilot, oberver, gunner, and bombardier
Length: 11.10 m (36 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 17.8 m (58 ft 5 in)
Height: 3.38 m (11 ft 1 in)
Wing area: 40.0 m² (430 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,150 kg (4,730 lb)
Gross weight: 3,480 kg (7,660 lb)
Powerplant: 1 x— Junkers L55, 447 kW (600 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 230 km/h (140 mph)
Range: 830 km (520 miles)

Armament

2 x— fixed, forward-firing machine guns
1 x— trainable, rearward-firing machine gun
100 kg (220 lb) bombs

Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp.546.
The Hugo Junkers Homepage

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Source: WikiPedia