Junkers J 7 - Ray Wagner Collection Image (20818567523)

The Junkers D.I (factory designation J 9) was a

monoplane A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing confi ...

fighter aircraft Fighter aircraft are fixed-wing military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat. In military conflict, the role of fighter aircraft is to establish air superiority of the battlespace. Domination of the airspace above a battlefield ...

produced in Germany late in World War I, significant for becoming the first all-metal fighter to enter service. The

prototype A prototype is an early sample, model, or release of a product built to test a concept or process. It is a term used in a variety of contexts, including semantics, design, electronics, and software programming. A prototype is generally used to ...

, a private venture by Junkers named the J 7, first flew on 17 September 1917, going through nearly a half-dozen detail changes in its design during its tests.Grosz and Terry 1984, p.67. When it was demonstrated to the '' Idflieg'' early the following year it proved impressive enough to result in an order for three additional aircraft for trials. The changes made by Junkers were significant enough for the firm to rename the next example the J 9, which was supplied to the ''Idflieg'' instead of the three J 7s ordered. Junkers D

During tests, the J 9 lacked the manoeuvrability necessary for a front-line fighter but was judged fit for a naval fighter and a batch of 12 was ordered. These were supplied to a naval unit by September 1918, which then moved to the Eastern Front after the Armistice.

Variants

;J 7 :company designation for early prototype variants, one built (three completed as J 9s). ;J 9 : company designation for late prototypes and production models ;J 9/II : company designation for lengthened fuselage version ;D.I : Idflieg designation

Survivors

One example survives and is on display in the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, at the

Paris–Le Bourget Airport Paris–Le Bourget Airport (french: link=no, Aéroport de Paris-Le Bourget) is an airport located within portions of the communes of Le Bourget, Bonneuil-en-France, Dugny and Gonesse, north-northeast of Paris, France. Once Paris's princip ...

, 11km north of

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

, France. Several replicas have been built, including one on display at the Luftwaffenmuseum Berlin-Gatow.

Specifications

References

Citations

Bibliography

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External links

Fokker D.VII, Halberstadt CL.IV and Junkers D.I

Junkers D.I at Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, Le Bourget
{{World War I Aircraft of the Central Powers 1910s German fighter aircraft D.I Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1917