Junkers Ju 52/3m

The Junkers Ju 52/3m, often called the ‘Tante Ju’, was a German three‑engine transport aircraft built by Junkers from the early 1930s through the post‑war years. First flying in 1930 as a prototype of the earlier Ju 52 trimotor, it entered service with the Luftwaffe in 1932 and soon became the backbone of Germany’s military and civilian air transport. Its corrugated duralumin skin, fixed landing gear and robust undercarriage gave it exceptional durability on rough fields, while the three BMW Bramo 322 radial engines provided reliable power up to 1,200 hp total. The versatile cabin could be configured for up to 18 passengers, cargo, paratroopers or a medical evacuation role, and the aircraft proved pivotal during the Spanish Civil War, the Blitzkrieg campaigns of World War II and the Berlin Airlift, delivering thousands of tons of supplies. After the war, many Ju 52s were sold to commercial operators worldwide, and a handful remain flying in historic airshows today. The Ju 52/3m’s simple, rugged design and multi‑role capability cement its legacy as one of the most recognizable and influential transport aircraft of the twentieth century.

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