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Junkers G.38

Transport · Interwar (1919–1938)

Junkers G.38 — Transport
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The Junkers G.38 was a German four-engine all-metal monoplane airliner — at its 1929 first flight, the largest landplane in the world. Hugo Junkers designed the G.38 in 1928; the prototype first flew on 6 November 1929. Only 2 G.38 airframes were built at Junkers Dessau between 1929 and 1931. The aircraft served Lufthansa as a flagship European airliner 1932-1944 before destruction by the British in 1941 (one) + Allied bombing in 1944 (the other).

The G.38 used 4 × Junkers L 88 V-12 diesel engines (800 hp each, total 3,200 hp). Maximum speed 225 km/h, range 3,500 km, service ceiling 4,000 m. Capacity: 34 passengers + 7 crew. The aircraft's thick wing (1.7 m thick at the wing root) housed 4 passenger compartments offering passengers seats with forward-facing views — a unique feature not duplicated in any other airliner. Cabin layout featured a smoking lounge, a sleeping compartment, and a kitchen-galley.

G.38 service was concentrated in Lufthansa main-line European routes 1932-1944 — Berlin-Amsterdam, Berlin-London (briefly), Berlin-Rome, Berlin-Athens. The 2 airframes served as flagship demonstrations of German aviation prowess + actually carried regular fare-paying passenger service. One G.38 was lost to RAF strafing at Athens airport in April 1941; the other was destroyed in Allied bombing of Tempelhof airport in 1944. About 0 G.38 airframes survive. The Mitsubishi Ki-20 (Imperial Japanese Army licensed bomber derivative) was the only G.38-related production — 6 Ki-20s were built 1932-1935 in Japan.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Junkers G-38 was a giant German four-engine airliner from 1929. When it first flew, it was the largest land-based plane in the whole world. Only two G-38s were ever built.

The G-38 was unusual because the wing was so thick that some passengers could sit inside the wing itself. The wing was 1.7 meters thick at the root — about as tall as a grown adult. Passengers in the wing got special forward-facing windows for amazing views.

Hugo Junkers designed the G-38 in 1928. The wings were 44 meters from tip to tip — longer than four city buses parked end to end. The plane could carry 34 passengers plus 7 crew. Four big diesel V-12 engines pushed the plane along at 140 mph.

Lufthansa used both G-38s as flagship airliners on routes around Europe from 1932 to 1944. One was destroyed by the British in 1941, and the other was lost during Allied bombing in 1944. No G-38 survives today, but the design pioneered the idea of huge multi-engine airliners.

Fun Facts

  • The G-38 was the largest land-based plane in the world when it first flew in 1929.
  • Only two G-38s were ever built.
  • Some passengers could sit inside the thick wing itself and look out the front.
  • The wings stretched 44 meters from tip to tip.
  • Each plane carried 34 passengers and 7 crew.
  • Both G-38s were destroyed during World War II.

Kids’ Questions

Why was the G-38's wing so thick?

Hugo Junkers wanted to fit as many seats as possible inside the plane. A thick wing was strong enough to hold passengers without breaking. It also held fuel tanks and the engines. The thick wing made the G-38 very stable, but it also made the plane slower than thinner-winged planes.

Where exactly did passengers sit inside the wing?

The wing of the G-38 was 1.7 meters thick at the body. Two small cabins inside each wing held 6 passengers each, facing forward. They could look out through small windows in the leading edge of the wing. It was one of the strangest seats in airline history.

Variants

G.38a (sole prototype)
First airframe 1929-1933. Crashed at Dessau 1934 (test flight).
G.38b (second airframe)
Second airframe 1931-1944. Destroyed in Allied bombing 1944 at Berlin-Tempelhof.
Mitsubishi Ki-20 (Japanese license)
Japanese Imperial Army Ki-20 heavy-bomber variant. 6 built 1932-1935.

Notable Operators

Lufthansa (1932-1944)
Sole civil operator. Berlin-European routes.
Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
6 Mitsubishi Ki-20 bombers. Limited in-service use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Could G.38 passengers see out from the wing?

Yes — and this was the aircraft's most-famous feature. The G.38's thick wing (1.7 m thick at the root) housed 4 passenger compartments with forward-facing windows + seats. Passengers in these compartments had unobstructed forward visibility — looking out over the leading edge of the wing as the aircraft flew. No other airliner has duplicated this feature.

How many G.38s were built?

Only 2 airframes (1929 + 1931) at Junkers Dessau. Plus 6 Mitsubishi Ki-20 Japanese bombers (1932-1935) under licence. Combined total 8 airframes. The G.38's economics never worked commercially — Lufthansa kept the 2 airframes in operation as prestige demonstrations rather than as profitable commercial assets.

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