H 21

The Junkers H 21 was a pioneering German amphibious aircraft built in the early 1920s by Junkers Motorenbau und Junkers Flugzeugwerk, the same firm that had already revolutionised all‑metal construction with the Junkers J 1. First flown in 1923, the H 21 was conceived as a versatile transport capable of operating from both water and land, a response to the growing demand for flexible commercial and military services in the post‑World‑War‑I era. Its high‑wing, cantilever monoplane layout featured an all‑duralumin fuselage and a corrosion‑protected steel hull, while the retractable main landing gear allowed seamless transition between pontoons and wheels. Powered by a robust 300 hp Junkers L5 inline engine mounted in the nose, the aircraft could cruise at 150 km/h and carry up to eight passengers or equivalent cargo. The H 21’s durability, ease of maintenance, and dual‑mode capability made it a valuable asset for ferry services across the Baltic and for remote military reconnaissance missions. Although only a limited series was produced, the H 21 demonstrated the practicality of metal amphibians and paved the way for later Junkers seaplanes such as the G 38, cementing its place in aviation history as a bridge between early wood‑and‑fabric biplanes and the all‑metal era.

Junkers Motorenbau und Junkers Flugzeugwerk

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Design & Classification