Junkers F 13

Today, we take it for granted that we can fly anywhere in the world, but the modest beginnings of international air travel are not even a century old. The Junkers F 13, introduced in 1919, could seat only four passengers, but this plane was the mother of global commercial flight and was used on five continents. It was the first all-metal aircraft, which enabled it to shatter many records for both altitude and distance flown until 1932. Despite these achievements, this pioneering plane has been overshadowed by its famous successor, the JU 52; of the 347 F 13s produced, only five survive in museums, and none are airworthy. In 2009, a group of passionate aircraft designers set out to build a replica F 13 and get it in the air. With support from RIMOWA, a leading luggage manufacturer, this dream became a reality. This volume tells the tale of the first Junkers F 13 and the amazing story of its reconstruction, from the detective-like search for original documents and design drawings to preparing for the first test flights.