Wot Plane?

[ChrisVJ]

Saw this lovely promotional picture in Red Robin in Salem Oregon the day before yesterday. Bet my family Pprune would tell us what aircraft it was and probably the date and what the pilot had for breakfast (at wurst.)

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f296/ChrisVJ/German.jpg

[India Four Two]

It's not a "Wot Plane" - it's a Junkers G-38, specifically the second prototype D-2500 (later D-APIS). Only two were built. At the time, it was the largest landplane in the world.

The photo would have been taken sometime in the 1930s. Sorry, I cannot help with the pilot's breakfast, but wurst is a strong possibility. ;)

Some nice photos and movie shots here YouTube - Junkers G38 Airliner (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP6Qvvdb1io)

Now if someone can identify the nice little Mercedes in the foreground

[mustpost]

Given the vertical bonnet louvres, I would guess its a M-B 290, which was made in relatively small numbers; coachwork by a variety of different companies ('33-36) cabriolet, wire wheels, flat screen etc, but can't nail down the exact one.

Always thought these early airline/aircraft promo shots were very amusing - featuring as they do an attaractive woman gazing heavenwards for her mode of transport when there's a perfectly servicable a/c behind her :)

[twochai]

C'mon, she's the skipper doing a weather check!

[S'land]

A friend of mine, who is a Mercedes fanatic, has just popped by and says that it may be the 1937 model.

The Junkers G38 was ugly enough to be beautiful. I like the idea of passengers sitting in the wings, as well as on two decks. The Junkers site has a cut-away of the aircraft layout.

http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p456/Sundland/jug38.jpg?t=1217516517

[mustpost]

Love the diagram - a link to that site? Can't find it..
Did it carry oxygen bottles tho'?

:ouch: Hat, coat..

[S'land]

Mustpost:
Here is the link to the Junkers site page for the G38. I'm afraid it is in German. To get to the junkers home page click on the Junkers logo top left.

Junkers.de | Flugzeuge | Ju XX: Junkers G38 (http://www.junkers.de/flugzeuge/juxx/typ_g38.html)

[India Four Two]

Mustpost,

I agree with you. The wistful skyward gaze seems to be de rigeur. With that luggage, it looks like the young lady (who I imagine might also be called Mercedes) will have exceeded her 20Kg allowance before even packing any clothes!

S'land,

Thanks for the link. I was wondering what she might look like inside. There is another page about the "Flying Hotel" here Junkers.de | Flugzeuge | Ju XX: Die Junkers G 38 (http://www.junkers.de/flugzeuge/juxx/g38-artikel.html)

and on that page, if you "klicken Sie hier" (on the left above the small pictures), there are some large pictures, including one of the head-on view of a proposed 80 m wingspan monster, the J 1000.

I find the tail of the G-38 very strange. Here is an ultra-modern aircraft with a blended wing and they attach the tail from a Vickers Vimy! I cannot help wondering if that might have been a late addition due to lack of sufficient tail force. Does anyone know the history?

It's interesting that D-2000 had two different engine types. A spares nightmare for sake of saving some capital cost.

[mustpost]

Hah - "wistful skyward gaze"
Well.... I can remember a splitarse landing into Faro circa 1980 (on a 707)which had t'wife thinking twice about ever again travelling TAP or any other airline. (Takeanotherplane..etc). It was very hard to get her looking skyward for a year or 2. Can't recollect the gaze..:\
However - Still no spurious links to 744/747 oxy accidents -Damn no easy bait here tonight..:}
M