В.Кондратьев Самолеты первой мировой войны

"ЮНКЕРС" D.I / JUNKERS D.I
  
   Первый в мире цельнометаллический истребитель, построенный по прогрессивной схеме свободнонесущего низкоплана, был разработан в КБ фирмы "Юнкерс Флюгцойгверк" весной 1918 года на базе экспериментального одноместного моноплана J7. Новый самолет получил заводской индекс J9. Его фюзеляж, крыло и оперение имели каркас, склепанный из дюралевых труб и обшивку из тонких листов гофрированного металла. Двигатель - "Мерседес" D-III мощностью 160 л.с. Вооружение - два синхропулемета LMG 08/15.
   J9 впервые поднялся в воздух 12 мая 1918 г. и в следующем месяце принял участие во втором конкурсе истребителей в Адлерсхофе. Самолет показал неплохие скоростные данные, но по маневренности он уступал новым истребителям бипланной схемы, а летчики жаловались на "вялое" управление и недостаточный обзор вниз. Однако важным достоинством машины посчитали ее очень прочную и выносливую конструкцию, которая согласно прогнозам должна была выдерживать значительные боевые повреждения и хорошо противостоять атмосферным воздействиям.
   Фирме оплатили постройку 100 экземпляров истребителя, однако из-за различных технических проблем, а также из-за перебоев с поставками двигателей, сырья и комплектующих до конца войны успели построить и сдать военной приемке всего девять машин. Еще 31 экземпляр был выпущен уже после окончания боевых действий - с ноября 1918-го по февраль 1919 г. 12 из них сделаны по лицензии на фирме "Фоккер".
   Первые три "юнкерса" D.I отправили на западный фронт в августе 1918-го, еще три - в октябре, но никаких данных об их боевом применении не сохранилось.
   В 1919 году металлические "юнкерсы" активно использовались немецким добровольческим корпусом в гражданской войне на территории Прибалтики. В ходе боев полностью подтвердилось мнение об их выносливости и высокой боевой живучести.
  
  
ДВИГАТЕЛЬ: "Мерседес" D.III (180 л.с.) или BMW IIIa (185 л.с.).
  
ВООРУЖЕНИЕ: 2 синхр. LMG 08/ 15 "Шпандау".
  
  
ЛЕТНО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКИЕ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ
  
   Размах, м 9,00
   Длина, м, 7,30 (6,70)
   Площадь крыла, кв.м 14,80
   Сухой вес, кг 654
   Взлетный вес, кг 834
   Скорость максимальная, км/ч 186
   Время подъема на высоту
   1000 м, мин. сек 2,30
   Потолок, м 6000

A.Kay Junkers Aircraft and Engines 1913-1945 (Putnam)

Junkers J7

  Another short, stubby little fighter, the J7 was an experimental private venture by Junkers and was the world’s first all-Duralumin, low-wing monoplane. Corrugated sheet skinning was used overall, on top of a Duralumin tube structure. The designers were Reuter and Mader.
  Originally, rotating wing tips were used for roll control, but these were later replaced with conventional, unbalanced ailerons. The tailplane had a balanced elevator and there was a vertical fin pivoting about its centre to act as the rudder. A very strong, braced undercarriage and tailskid were provided, and power was supplied by a Mercedes D IIIa 120hp engine. Curiously, the radiator for this water-cooled engine was originally mounted atop the engine cowling, but it was later moved to a more aerodynamically acceptable position in front of the cowling.
  The first flight of the J7 took place on 17 September 1917, Arved von Schmidt being the pilot. In February 1918, the last year of the war, an official contest was held at Adlershof to select a new biplane fighter but the J7 was not allowed to compete since it was a monoplane. However, officialdom relented when it was found that the J7 was the fastest fighter. An initial order was mooted, but by then the sole prototype had been overtaken by the development of the J9. Three further prototypes were cancelled when only partially built.


Data: Span 9.2m (30ft 2 1/4in); length 6.7m (22ft); height 2.6m (8ft 6 1/4in); wing area 11.7m2 (126 sq ft); empty weight 656kg (1,446lb); loaded weight 835kg (1,841lb); max. speed 240kph (149mph); time to 5,000m (16,400ft) 23.7 min; ceiling 6,000m (19,680ft)



Junkers J9 (DI)

  An improved version of the J7, the J9 fighter could be readily distinguished by the longer undercarriage legs. The all-corrugated skinning and a Mercedes D III 160hp engine were again used, and the armament comprised two fixed 7.9mm LMG 08/15 machine guns. The J9 first flew in April 1918, and some 27 were delivered by Junkers and 20 by Junkers-Fokker. The prototype did not fare well in a fighter contest held in May/June at Adlershof, and it was thought the aircraft would be better suited to the specialised role of balloon attack. More aircraft were built for service use and experimental purposes. One source states that the type is not known to have been in action before the end of the First World War, but another states that about 40 were in service; the latter seems more likely.
  Alongside the J10, some J9s were used after the war by Geschwader Sachsenburg in Finland, Estonia and Lithuania against Bolshevik forces. Of the experimental versions, one was flown with a 185hp BMW IIIa engine and another with a 185hp Benz Bz IIIb. Some J9s were fitted with Duralumin floats - the first Junkers aircraft to have these - and the type did well in the Tyrrhenic Cup Competition at Naples in 1922.


Data: Span 9.0m (29ft 6 1/4in); length 7.25m (23ft 9 1/2in); height 2.6m (8ft 6 1/4in); wing area 14.8m2 (159 sq ft); empty weight 654kg (1,442lb); loaded weight 834kg (1,839lb); max. speed 225kph (140mph); time to 5,000m (16,400ft) 24min; endurance 1.5hr.

O.Thetford, P.Gray German Aircraft of the First World War (Putnam)

Junkers J 7
   Built during 1917, this machine was the prototype for the later D.I. Several modified variants existed, the original J 7 did not have orthodox ailerons; instead each complete wing-tip was arranged to swivel. However, these sections were prone to flutter and did not give the pilot sufficient feel in the controls, so ailerons were eventually incorporated. Power plant was the 160 h.p. Mercedes D III, with radiator over cylinder block as illustrated; the modified J 7 with ailerons had a car-type radiate at the nose. The J 7 participated in the second D types Competition in June 1918, when it climbed to 5,000 m. (16,400 ft.) in 23.7 min. at loaded weight of 836 kg. (1,839 lb.).


Junkers J 9 (D I)
   This single-seat fighter was ordered into production during 1918, but only a relative handful of machines got to the Front, for operational assessment, before the Armistice. The all-metal D I differed mainly from the J 7 prototype in having a fuselage some 1 ft. 10 in. greater in length and a 185 h.p. B.M.W. engine installed. It participated in the third D types Competition. Span, 9.0 m.(29 ft. 6 3/8 in.). Length,7.25m.(23ft. 9 3/8 in.). Height 2.25 m. (7 ft. 4 1/2 in.). Area, 14.8 sq.m. (159 sq.ft.). Weights: Empty, 654 kg. (1,439 lb.). Loaded, 834 kg. (1,835 lb.). Speed, 185 km.hr. (118.75 m.p.h.). Climb, 1,000 m. (3,280 ft.) in 2.3 min. Armament, twin-fixed Spandau machine-guns.

W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters

JUNKERS J 7 Germany

   During the summer of 1916, Junkers switched attention from all-steel to dural construction in an effort to reduce aircraft weight. The J 3 all-duralumin single-seat fighter was discarded when partially built, because of the disinterest of the Idflieg. Nevertheless, Junkers proceeded, as a private venture, with the J 7 single-seat fighter, using the corrugated sheet skinning and duralumin tube construction techniques developed for the J I armoured ground attack biplane. Designed by Dipl-Ing Otto Reuter and powered by a 160 hp Mercedes D III engine, the J 7 flew for the first time on 17 September 1917. Rotating wingtip ailerons were initially fitted, these being replaced by conventional ailerons at an early stage. During the test programme a frontal radiator was introduced, together with a new wing embodying longer-span ailerons. Although not formally permitted to compete in the first D-type contest held at Adlershof in February 1918 because of its monoplane configuration, the J 7 proved faster than all official contenders, and, in February 1918, was finally accepted for testing by the Idflieg. Discussions were held concerning procurement of a small operational evaluation series of J 7s, but this fighter had meanwhile been overtaken by the J 9.

Max speed, 127 mph (205 km/h).
Time to 16,405 ft (5000 m), 24 min.
Empty weight, 1,446 lb (656 kg).
Loaded weight, 1,775 lb (805 kg).
Span, 30 ft 2 1/4 in (9,20 m).
Length, 21 ft 11 3/4 in (6,70 m).
Height, 8 ft 6 1/3 in (2,60 m).
Wing area, 125.94 sq ft (11,70 m2).


JUNKERS D I (J 9) Germany

   Hard on the heels of the J 7, construction of the improved J 9 single-seat fighter was begun by Junkers. Powered by a similar 160 hp Mercedes D III engine, the J 9 flew for the first time in late April 1918. Concurrently, the Idflieg awarded Junkers und Compagnie and the Junkers-Fokker Werke AG each a contract for 10 pre-series J 9s as D Is. The first D I prototype was entered in the 2nd D-type contest held at Adlershof in May-June 1918, but combat pilots adjudged it totally unsuited for fighter tactics then current. It was suggested that, in view of the comparative invulnerability of its metal structure, it should be produced as a specialised ‘‘balloon attack" aircraft. Accordingly, further contracts were issued for the D I for this role between May and November 1918, bringing the total ordered to 60 machines. Of these, Junkers delivered about 27 and Junkers-Fokker delivered 13 through February 1919. There is no record of the D I having been used in combat during World War I, but a few were active with the Geschwader Sachsenberg in Kurland against Bolshevik insurgents. One D I was test flown with a 185 hp Benz Bz IIIb eight-cylinder Vee engine, and another, powered by a 185 hp BMW IIIa engine, participated in the 3rd D-type contest in October 1918.

Max speed, 140 mph (225 km/h).
Time to 16,405 ft (5 000 m), 24 min.
Endurance, 1.5 hrs.
Empty weight, 1,442 lb (654 kg).
Loaded weight, 1,839 lb (834 kg).
Span, 29 ft 6 1/3 in (9,00 m).
Length, 23 ft 9 3/8 in (7,25 m).
Height, 8 ft 6 1/3 in (2,60 m).
Wing area, 159.31 sq ft (14,80 m2).

M.Dusing German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 1 (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 84)

Junkers-Fokker-Werke, AG, Dessau (Junk and Jfa)

Aircraft Development:

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  In parallel development, the single-decker was converted into a D.I and CL.I aircraft, equipped with 185 hp BMW IIIa and 160 hp Mercedes D.IIIa engines, respectively. In September 1917, shortly before the merger with Fokker-Werke, the company produced a single-seat monoplane, followed by a two-seater in December. Comparison flights carried out at Adlershof in the spring of 1918 showed satisfactory results, but the aircraft was never put into larger-scale production. Development work on an R-airplane and a naval D-airplane was equally unsuccessful.