Junkers F 13 So why an open cockpit or floats for an airliner? Funny you should ask!

[@joefin5900]

Ron, I have a story about another German aircraft, the Dornier DO-24. In August of 2005 the family had just returned from a morning of surfing at Rockaway Beach and as we entered our apartment, 26 floors up overlooking the Hudson river in Battery Park, one of the kids yelled "a plane just landed in the river!" I prayed for the occupants. Running to the window, I see a three-engined floatplane bobbing serenly in the middle of the river as a tugboat pulls up to provide a mooring. An hour later we met the crew, all spiffy in their jumpsuits and then they departed, performing low level turns and then headed west. What a show! The plane went to the Philipines. Iren Dornier was the pilot. NYC is in bad shape but the aviation stuff I have seen here in the last 40 years is memorable.

[@ronrogers]

Very interesting!

[@rossshears6726]

My father was intimately associated with Junkers aircraft in the early part of his career . Starting as a mechanics “ helper “ on his way to mechanic . I have a picture of him straddling the V12 RR Buzzard of the modified single engine JU 52 CF-ARM on floats at YPA River base in 1938. He went on to fly the W34 Junkers and various other cutting edge aircraft of that day and era . Look up the Bush Pilots memorial , Fort Saint James BC Canada . W34 replica . Fascinating history , kudos to all that do the research and publish this history for all to enjoy . RS .

[@ronrogers]

Thank you so much for your nice comments and very interesting about your father. Hearing stories like yours is what I love about posting videos on this channel!

[@karlchilders5420]

Ron you were talking about a "smudge pot". They'd smoke for visibility purposes. We also used them on the range while shooting to black sight tips and remove glare. That stuff was hard to get off your hands but not impossible. Stank to high heaven as well. Good times.....

[@ronrogers]

Yes, "smudge pots"! Couldn't remember the name right off!

[@stay_at_home_astronaut]

My Bonanza (1956 year model) had the ability to drop flares.

[@ronrogers]

Interesting!

[@Wannes_]

I've seen quite a few of these in museums around Europe Essentially a scaled up WW1 Junkers D.1 fighter The rudder wasn't even aero-balanced originally ! The original tailfin was triangular - which then got extended for the floatplanes

[@InvertedFlight]

A very interesting thing, around the time they were developing this aircraft. Because of the war, there was a shortage of supplies. So they were forced to go down to their local Home Depot and just use corrugated roofing to finish the airplane. It was a little heavy, but was known for being very, very dry.

[@moi01887]

LOL

[@Bobm-kz5gp]

Ron since you like old aircraft you should check out Callair Aircraft in Afton Wy. Reuel Call built this airplane to spray crops, heard wild horses, deliver mail, land on mountain tops to check snow depths etc. A retired USAF general and Wyoming Senator owns one these that he helped build when he worked in the Callair factory. Took me for a ride in it once, a very nice airplane. It would be well worth the trip. The Generals hangar is the first hangar you see as you enter the Afton Airport, he is a great guy, you would like him. I can’t remember his name but I’m sure just about everyone in Afton knows him. Afton is 6,200’ above sea level and is about 80 miles south of Jackson Hole. Afton is on the South end of the beautiful Star Valley.

[@ronrogers]

Isn't that where the Pitts Special started? Sounds like a fun trip. Thanks!

[@pittss2c601]

I saw the Junkers airplane at Oshkosh and fell in love with it. So cool. I talked to the pilots. They said the huge, fat wing really blanks out the tail. It’s challenging on pavement with the super spongy landing gear. Love the 450 hp P&W. You paid $300K for an old new biplane? That’s crazy. For $300,000 I’d buy a used aerobatic airplane such as an Extra 300 or a Pitts Special and save a lot of money. I think I sat in your Waco biplane when it was at Oshkosh!

[@ronrogers]

I came down to what I could get insurance in. I could not get insurance in the Extra and Pitts that wasn't outlandishly expensive.

[@tomwilson1006]

I’ve always wanted a Junkers JU-52.

[@tomwilson1006]

Supposedly they’re coming out with a new version.

[@bobcfi1306]

Very good. Thanks

[@ronrogers]

Thank you too!

[@kbalch]

As an aside (a digression!), I've been thinking about the Great Lakes for awhile and took the factory demo flight at SnF last month. I loved the airplane, but was astonished at the $490K asking price, as I was expecting something much closer to $300K. Guess I missed my window by two years. Story of my life. 🙂 Nevertheless, I'm planning to order one at OSH this summer. It'll be a long wait while it's under construction...

[@ronrogers]

Yes, they realized they were not priced for the work involved. I feel lucky I got mine when I did!

[@mikewysko2268]

Junkers engineering was on top of the game back in the day. 🛬 I would like to know where the corrugated aluminum was acquired and how the leading edge curve was molded. Thanks Ron.

[@kimmogensen5390]

like a 1 engine aunt Ju nice

[@moi01887]

Hmm... two seats but only one yoke in the cockpit. Is this the plane I keep hearing about where in the cockpit you have only a pilot and a dog? ;^)

[@ShadesOClarity]

I am familiar with Junkers, but I've never seen this model. No yoke on the right side? That isn't very smart. What happens if the captain dies in his seat from a heart attack or stroke? I guess it's good there is no windshield. The copilot (assuming he could fly or at least land) could chuck his body out and jump in the left seat. Heh. I think it's pretty cool looking. Seeing the guts of The Great Lakes was cool too.

[@ronrogers]

Yes, the one yoke was surprising to me also! Thanks!

[@PifflePrattle]

8:16 haw haw haw.

[@onkelfabs6408]

Ich bezweifle, dass der Druck beim Original in PSI angegeben war. Und die Höhen waren mit Sicherheit in Metern angegeben.

[@ronrogers]

Das ist bestimmt richtig. Diese Version wurde aber für den amerikanischen Markt hergestellt, deshalb ist der Druck in PSI und die Höhen in Fuß angegeben.

[@onkelfabs6408]

@@ronrogers your German is not bad either. Yeah that's what I assumed. It's bad enough you have to deal with the trouble of metric altitudes in Russia and China.

[@ronrogers]

Thanks but I can't take credit for the German. My son is fluent in German, his wife is from Köln, and my grandson is going to college in Germany (my son wrote the response).😁

[@yuglesstube]

Things a deathtrap

[@ronrogers]

Shows how much things have improved!