History

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Junkers returns

“A dream is just a dream – until you decide to realize it.”
This quote applies not only to Hugo Junkers, who as an engineer and entrepreneur initiated fundamental innovations in aircraft construction at the beginning of the 20th century. The all-metal aircraft construction he developed, the self-supporting, detachable wing, the pressurized cabin and the lightweight design are still standard in aircraft construction today.

Businessman Dieter Morszeck is another such visionary who makes dreams come true. As a passionate pilot, he has made it his mission to breathe new life into the traditional Junkers company. Inspired by the spirit of Hugo Junkers, he has managed to preserve the company’s history and at the same time relaunch it – combined with innovation and the latest technology.

In 2016, the first Junkers F13 replica took off for its maiden flight. In 2021, the Junkers A50 Junior, the ultralight aircraft, had its maiden flight. And in 2023, the ultimate flying experience continues seamlessly with the Junkers A60.

I want to get young people excited about flying – in their heads and in their guts. Dieter Morszeck

Company history

a story of freedom

1895

Foundation of Junkers & CO.

In 1895, Hugo Junkers founded Junkers & Co. together with Robert Ludwig, a German company for thermal and heating technology in Dessau. Just two years later, in 1897, Ludwig left the company, making Junkers the sole owner.

1915

Creation of the Junkers J 1

Due to the First World War, civilian production at Junkers & Co. largely came to a standstill. Instead of hot-air ovens and gas heating inserts, the first all-metal aircraft, the Junkers J 1, saw the light of day at the end of 1915 in the Junkers bath stove factory in Dessau – even though aviation had been completely foreign to the company until then. But it was not only military aircraft that were produced here; during the war, field kitchens in particular were also built for the army.

1919

Junkers Flugzeugwerk AG

After the aircraft division of Junkers & Co. was forcibly merged with Fokker Aeroplanbau to form Junkers-Fokker Werke AG in October 1917 under pressure from the military authorities, the company was renamed Junkers Flugzeug AG in April 1919. In the same year, the company built the world’s first all-metal commercial aircraft, the Junkers F13. Other aircraft followed shortly afterwards, such as the Junkers A20 and G 24.

1925

Successful establishment of airlines

As early as 1919, Hugo Junkers established the air traffic department within Junkers Flugzeugwerke. This was then renamed Junkers Luftverkehr AG in 1924 and developed into the most important airline in the world with many successful airlines, e.g. in Turkey, Persia and South America. By 1925, around 40% of the world’s air traffic network was flown by Junkers aircraft.

1932

Eine historische Aufnahme von 3 Junkers A50 Flugzeugen auf einer Wiese

Impending insolvency

In connection with the global economic crisis, Junkers-Werke ran into serious economic difficulties in the early 1930s. Hugo Junkers was able to avert the threat of insolvency in 1932 at the last minute by selling his gas appliance production and sales to Robert Bosch.

1933

Overwriting the patents

In 1933, founder Hugo Junkers was forced to transfer the remaining patents to his companies and hand over 51% of his company shares to the Reich Aviation Ministry without compensation. At the same time, Junkers was banned from his factories.

1935

Eine historische Aufnahme von Hugo Junkers

Death of Hugo Junkers

After Junkers died in 1935, his widow and heir Therese Junkers transferred the remaining shares in the company to Luftfahrtkontor GmbH, which Junkers managed as a front business for the RLM, in return for a compensation payment.

1936

Merger

On July 5, 1936, Junkers Motorenbau GmbH and Junkers Flugzeugwerk AG were merged to form Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke AG under the leadership of the new Junkers General Director Heinrich Koppenberg. In the course of the rearmament of the Wehrmacht, the company was eventually expanded to become one of the largest armaments companies in the German Reich.

2015

Eine Aufnahme von einem Herren der den Propeller eines Junkers F13 Flugzeugs hält

New foundation

Junkers Flugzeugwerke finally experienced its revival in 2015. The new company founded by Dieter Morszeck in Dübendorf, Switzerland, aims to recreate historic Junkers aircraft in small series, taking into account modern safety standards, and to maintain and keep old examples airworthy.

2016

The Junkers F13 returns

In 2016, the first Junkers F13 was launched, the reproduction of which had already begun in 2013. The aircraft has been produced in a small series since 2018.

2019

Eine Aufnahme eines Junkers A50 Junior Flugzeugs im Flugbetrieb

The prototype of the Junkers A50 Junior

In 2019, the first prototype of the ultra-light Junkers A50 Junior sports aircraft was completed. Junkers Flugzeugwerke also took over the European distribution of the American Waco Aircraft Corporation.

2020

The company headquarters are relocated

In July 2020, the company’s headquarters were relocated to the Nöllen industrial estate in Widnau, St. Gallen. The maintenance facility for Junkers aircraft is located at Altenrhein airfield.

2021

The Junkers A50 Junior takes off

Shortly before Christmas 2021, the time has come – the new Junkers A50 Junior takes off for its successful maiden flight.