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Junkers A 32 / K 39

The Junkers A 32 was a mail plane built in prototype form in Germany in the late 1920s, and later developed as a prototype reconnaissance-bomber under the designation K 39.

The design was a conventional low-wing cantilever monoplane with fixed tailskid undercarriage.

Construction was metal throughout, with corrugated duralumin skin.

Three open cockpits were provided in tandem; the third seat intended from the outset to accommodate a tail gunner for a military version of the aircraft.

In fact, the militarised version developed in Sweden by AB Flygindustri featured a fourth crew position as well, for a bombardier.

This version featured twin machine guns built into the engine cowling, and a trainable machine gun for the tail gunner.

Only two A 32s were built, and the first prototype was destroyed in a crash on 2 November 1927 that killed Junkers engineer Karl Plauth.

The sole K 39 constructed may have been modified from the second prototype.

No sales of either the civil or military version ensued.

Specifications

Crew

Four

Length

11.10 m (36 ft 5 in)

Wingspan

17.8 m (58 ft 5 in)

Height

3.38 m (11 ft 1 in)

Wing area

40.0 m2 (430 sq ft)

Empty weight

2,150 kg (4,730 lb)

Gross weight

3,480 kg (7,660 lb)

Powerplant

1 × Junkers L55,

447 kW (600 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed

230 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn)

Range

830 km (520 mi, 450 nmi)

Armament

2 × fixed, forward-firing machine guns

1 × trainable, rearward-firing machine gun

100 kg (220 lb) bombs.

 

 

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