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Junkers returns

“A dream is just a dream – until you decide to make it a reality.”
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 design he developed, the cantilevered, detachable wing, the pressurized cabin and the lightweight construction method are still standard in aircraft construction today.

Businessman Dieter Morszeck is another such visionary who makes dreams come true. 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 manages to preserve the history and relaunch it at the same time – 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 flight 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 or heating technology in Dessau. Just two years later, in 1897, Ludwig left the company, making Junkers the sole owner.
1915

Origin 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 stoves and gas heating inserts, the world’s first all-metal aircraft, the Junkers J 1, saw the light of day at Junkers’ Dessau bath stove factory at the end of 1915 – even though aviation had been completely alien to the company until then. It was not only military aircraft that were produced during the war, since 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. That same year, the company built the Junkers F13, the world’s first all-metal commercial aircraft. Other aircraft followed shortly thereafter, 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 became the most important airline in the world with many successful airlines, e.g. in Turkey, Persia and South America. Around 1925, about 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 world economic crisis, Junkers-Werke ran into major economic difficulties in the early 1930s. Hugo Junkers was able to avert the threat of insolvency in 1932 at the last minute by selling gas appliance production and sales to Robert Bosch.
1933

Overwrite the patents

Signing over of patents in 1933, founder Hugo Junkers was forced to sign over the remaining patents to his companies and to surrender 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 heiress Therese Junkers also left the remaining company shares to Luftfahrtkontor GmbH in return for a compensation payment, which Junkers administered as the RLM’s camouflage business.
1936

Merger

On July 5, 1936, under the leadership of the new Junkers General Director Heinrich Koppenberg, Junkers Motorenbau GmbH and Junkers Flugwerkzeug AG were merged to form Junkers Flugzeug- und Motorenwerke AG. In the course of the Wehrmacht’s rearmament, the company was eventually expanded into one of the largest armaments corporations in the German Reich.
2015
Eine Aufnahme von einem Herren der den Propeller eines Junkers F13 Flugzeugs hält

New foundation

In 2015, the Junkers Flugzeugwerke finally experienced their revival. The new company founded by Dieter Morszeck in Dübendorf, Switzerland, aims to rebuild historic Junkers aircraft in small series, taking into account modern safety standards, and to maintain old examples and keep them airworthy.
2016

The Junkers F13 returns

2016 saw the launch of the first Junkers F13, the reproduction of which had already begun in 2013. Since 2018, the machine has been produced in a small series
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. In addition, Junkers aircraft 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 park in Widnau, St. Gallen. The maintenance operation 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.