Junkers K 16

The Junkers K 16, produced under Otto Reuter in the early 1920s, was a pioneering all‑metal monoplane that embodied Hugo Junkers’ construction principles while reflecting Reuter’s manufacturing capabilities. Developed in 1923 as a response to the Reichswehr’s demand for a fast reconnaissance‑bomber, the K 16 featured a cantilevered high‑wing layout, a single Mercedes D.IIIa inline engine delivering 180 hp, and a fully stressed‑skin duralumin fuselage. Its use of corrugated metal panels provided rigidity without the weight penalty of traditional frame‑and‑fabric designs. The aircraft could carry up to 300 kg of bombs internally, while a crew of two operated from an enclosed cockpit with dual controls and a forward‑firing 7.92 mm machine gun. Flight testing in 1924 showed a top speed of 210 km/h and a service ceiling of 6,500 m—performance that surpassed many contemporary biplanes. Although only twelve were built before the program was curtailed by the Treaty of Versailles, the K 16’s structural concepts influenced later Junkers models such as the J 30 and the Ju 87 Stuka. Its legacy lies in proving that all‑metal construction could meet military aviation’s demanding requirements, paving the way for the next generation of German aircraft.

Otto Reuter

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