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After an abundance of support at the unveiling of the Rotax-powered Junkers A50 Junior in 2023, Junkers Aircraft unveiled the A50 Heritage at the 50th annual Sun ‘n Fun, showcasing the history and original design of the A50 Junior that have become trademarks. As Junkers works to revive legacy aircraft, it remembers the history it was built upon.RELATED STORY:Classic light-sport aircraft Junkers A50 Junior reborn at Sun 'N Fun 2023
At the 2023 Sun ‘n Fun event Junkers unveiled the classic A50 Junior, built with a partnership with Waco Aircraft. Like with the WACO YMF, Great Lakes 2T Sport Trainer and Junkers F-13, the aircraft blended classic 1930s design elements with a modern touch. First flown in 1929 in Germany, the A50 Junior represents an iconic era in flight. The Junkers A50 Junior has a wingspan of 34'4" and is 24'4" long and 9'6" high, just one foot longer than the original. The two-seater, low-wing aircraft is wrapped in corrugated aluminum, just like the original. Unlike the 1930s Junior, the modern rendition features updated technology and features, including glass navigation and a parachute.
Unlike the original model, which features an 80-horsepower, 5-cylinder radial engine, the modern design is powered by a fuel-injected Rotax 912 IS2 with 100 horsepower and driven by a ground-adjustable 2-blade MT propeller. The cruise speed is 75 knots and the stall speed is 46 knots. The classic-looking plane tops out at a recommended max speed of 112 knots and has demonstrated handling a max crosswind of 15 knots. The A50 Junior can takeoff with a 50-foot clearance at 984 feet and land with a 50-foot clearance at 1,355 feet.
Junkers said the A50 Junior has been fitted with the latest in economical and reliable powerplants, forcing a redesign of the nose and engine cowling. This made the most prominent feature of the aircraft unfaithful to the original design. The A50 Heritage carefully captured the essence of Hugo Junkers' innovative original design. Equipped with a Scarlett 7U radial engine and an authentic two-piece glass wing screens, the Heritage stays true to the 1930s design. The revamped classic features a reinstated panel layout with analog gauges. The Heritage offers both the look and feel of the 1930s aircraft, taking the pilot back to the first flight in 1929.
The company has strived to recreate a forgotten era of aviation, often overshadowed by modern technology and aircraft, or the popular WWII warbirds like the P-51 Mustang or B-29 Superfortress. Businessman Dieter Morszeck took on the vision of Hugo Junkers, the engineer and entrepreneur who introduced the original innovative designs in the early 20th century. Features like the all-metal aircraft, the pressurized cabin and lightweight instruction are still seen today. Morszeck was inspired by the original Junkers spirit and aims to preserve history while relaunching it at the same time. In 2016 the first Junkers F13 replica took flight, in 2021 the Junkers A50 Junior had its maiden flight, and finally, in 2023 the Junkers A60 joined them in the sky.
The A50 Heritage is a continuation of the effort to preserve a piece of aviation history while bringing it into the modern age. Pilots, passengers and aviation enthusiasts can catch a glimpse of a golden age in flight and feel the way a pilot did in 1929 when the A50 Junior first flew.