Ju 52/3m Iberia, 1952 (1:144)

The Ju-52 first flew in 1930 as a single engine civil aircraft. Before long it was given two more engines and designated Ju-52/3m (German - drei motoren - "three engines"). The 3-engine aircraft was originally designed as a 17 passenger airliner. The principal user was Lufthansa that flew in Europe, Asia and South America. In the mid 1930's a military version was produced and the Ju-52 became one of the most reliable transport aircraft. The Ju-52 saw service with military and civilian air fleets well into the 1980s.

In 1929 Iberia Airlines merged with another state own airline. In May 1935 LAPE (Lineas Aereas Postales Espanolas) Company was created it was taken over by the military in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. Since the name Iberia was still registered the airline began to fly in Nationalist-held territory eventually becoming a purely domestic airline. EC-AAJ was a former DLH (Deutsche Lufthansa) aircraft D-AVUL 'Bruno Rodschinka' acquired by Iberia in February 1941 and named 'Guadal Quivir'. One month later the aircraft was written off at Son Bonet Mallorca without fatalities.

Specifications for Junkers & Co Ju-52/3m
Role - Airliner, Transport Aircraft
Crew ' 3 / 2 x pilots, radio operator
Payload - 17 passengers
Nicknames ' German / Tante Ju ("Auntie Ju"), Allies / Iron Annie, Corrugated Coffin,
Jupiter was BEA Airlines designation of war-reparation Ju 52/3m's in 1947
Number Built by Junkers ' 4,845

Dimensions
Length - 62 ft 18.9 m
Height - 20 ft 6.1 m
Wingspan - 95.9 ft 29.25 m
Wing area - 1189.4 sq/ft 110.5 sq/m
Max take-off weight ' 23,152 lbs 10,500 kg
Weight empty ' 14,531 lbs 6,590 kg

Performance data
Maximum speed - 143 kts 264 km/h
Initial climb rate - 787.4 ft/min 4.00 m/s
Service ceiling ' 16,732 ft 5,100 m
Range - 648 nm 1,200 km
Endurance - 7 hours +
Powerplant ' 3 x BMW 132 A/3 9 cylinder radial air-cooled turbocharged (high-altitudes) engines with carburetors
Power rating (max.) - 819 hp per engine
Maximum Total power rating ' 2,456 hp