Junkers D.I

what is it?

The Junkers D.I (factory designation J 9) was a monoplane fighter aircraft produced in Germany late in World War I, significant for becoming the first all-metal fighter to enter service. The prototype, a private venture by Junkers named the J 7, first flew on 17 September 1917, going through nearly a half-dozen detail changes in its design during its tests. When it was demonstrated to the Idflieg early the following year it proved impressive enough to result in an order for three additional aircraft for trials.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 engine · 9 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 176 km/htop speed
• seats 1passengers
• size 834 kgmax take-off weight
• built 41made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 109 years ago, in 1917.
• 🚗Wingspan of 9 m: about 2 cars parked nose to tail.

spec sheet

first flight

1917-09-17

introduced

1918

status

retired

number built

41

role

fighter

origin

German Reich

makers

Junkers Motorenbau und Junkers Flugzeugwerk

engines

1× BMW IIIa water-cooled 6-cylinder inline / BMW IIIa

passengers

1

length

7.3 m

wingspan

9 m

height

2.6 m

max take-off weight

834 kg

top speed

176 km/h

range

—

ceiling

6,000 m

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.