Junkers F 24

The Junkers F 24, introduced in 1924, was the first all‑metal transport aircraft produced by the German manufacturer Junkers. Developed under the direction of Hugo Junkers, the F 24 evolved from the earlier J 30 and J 31 designs, incorporating a cantilever low‑wing monoplane layout and a robust corrugated duralumin skin that gave the aircraft its characteristic appearance. Powered by a single BMW or Junkers L‑5 radial engine delivering around 230 hp, the type could carry up to eight passengers or a mixed load of mail and cargo, and boasted a cruising speed of 170 km/h with a range of roughly 1 000 km. Its enclosed cabin, fixed undercarriage with shock‑absorbing struts, and reliable handling made it popular with early commercial airlines, especially in Europe and the Soviet Union, where licensed production continued into the 1930s. The F 24 demonstrated the advantages of metal construction over wood‑and‑fabric structures, influencing subsequent Junkers transport models such as the Ju 52 and shaping the standards of early air‑liner design. Its service record, spanning both civilian routes and military utility roles, solidified its place as a pioneering step toward modern aviation. Today only a few restored examples survive in museums, serving as tangible reminders of the pioneering era of all‑metal aviation.