Junkers
T 19
The Junkers T 19 was a pioneering German light aircraft produced in the early 1920s. Conceived by Hugo Junkers as a civil‑type trainer and sport plane, the T 19 made its first flight in 1920 and entered limited production shortly thereafter. Its most striking attribute was the all‑metal, cantilever wing construction that had become Junker’s trademark; the aircraft used a single‑piece duralumin wing without external bracing, a low‑mounted configuration and a fixed tailskid undercarriage. Powered typically by a 100‑hp Siemens‑Halske Sh 12 radial or an equivalent inline engine, the T 19 could carry a pilot and one passenger, offering reliable handling and modest cruising speeds of around 150 km/h. Only a few dozen were built, largely because post‑war Versailles restrictions curtailed German military aviation and the market for small civil types remained limited. Nevertheless, the T 19 demonstrated the durability and aerodynamic cleanliness of all‑metal structures, influencing later Junkers designs such as the A 20 and the iconic Ju 52 transport. Its role in flight‑training schools helped establish the credibility of metal aircraft in a period still dominated by wood‑and‑fabric machines, marking an important step in the transition to modern aviation.
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 3
- First Flight
- 1922