The First

Once again,many thanks to all for your continued input 🙂

The Short Silver Streak of 1920 was, I think, the first British all metal aircraft – Junkers easily coming first with the J-1.

Edit – Part of the issue is what counts as ‘all-metal’. The J-1 had a wooden tail-skid, but did have alloy covering, and didn’t use wood or fabric as part of the structure – many later ‘all metal’ aircraft had fabric covered control surfaces; most would agree that major structure made of metal plus overall covering is a requirement.

Junkers JL-6 seems to be a prime candidate.

Metal aeroplane development

1924 Sikorsky S-29A the First twin-engine airplane capable of flying on one engine and First all metal aircraft….

http://www.sikorskyarchives.com/timeline.html

A225HVY

The honour is given to the Junkers J1 in all the refs, and I can find no reason to doubt it.

But floating around in that loose pile of disorganised info commonly called my brain is a vague recollection that there was a pre WW1 French design which was built but did not fly. If I can remember where I saw that (if indeed I did, and it wasn’t the grog) I’ll post it. :confused:

There seem to be a lot of references around to something French called the “Tubavion” which was flown by Ponche and Primardlew in 1912 – looks as if it had a metal frame with fabric covered wings

Just finished reading ‘Luftwaffe Secret Projects – Strategic bombers 1935-1945’ and for what it’s worth they state:

Dornier Do Y – An All metal bomber for the Reichswehr
The Do Y medium-range bomber, produced by Dornier’s Swiss subsidiary in Zurich in 1930, was the first all-metal aircraft to be built. its maiden flight took place on 17th October 1931. After extensive tests by the Air Directorate of the Reichswehr, the Do Y was rejected as being unsuitable for its intended role.

Mark

Many thanks to all for the ongoing input 🙂

Sitting around chatting the other day and someone asked me “What was the first all metal aircraft to fly ?” I said that I didn’t know but I know a man who does 😉
Over to you.

The honour is given to the Junkers J1 in all the refs, and I can find no reason to doubt it.

But floating around in that loose pile of disorganised info commonly called my brain is a vague recollection that there was a pre WW1 French design which was built but did not fly. If I can remember where I saw that (if indeed I did, and it wasn’t the grog) I’ll post it. :confused:

I just thought i saw something somewhere on their early developments but i cant remember dates. Please prove me wrong, it was just a thought.

One of their early projects, i am not up to scratch on horton designs but it was just a thought.

just

One of their early projects, i am not up to scratch on horton designs but it was just a thought.

Which Horton Ollie?

Best wishes
Steve P

I would either think a Junkers or maybe a Horton.

Knew I could count on you guys 😉 Many thanks too all.

At first sight your ‘I don’t know but I know a man who does’ seems a bold statement but when you come on this forum it is merely a statement of fact.

Knew I could count on you guys 😉 Many thanks too all.

I’d think the Junkers.

Junkers I’d suggest too. Junkers used a corrugated aluminium skin right up to their 1930s designed Ju52/3m. Subsequent designs were more typical stressed aluminium monocoque.

Anthony Fokker used steel tubing with wood and fabric panelling from about 1917 onwards.

IIRC, Short Bros built an all metal aircraft relatively early, but I would guess Junkers too.

I’d stick with Junkers, but go a little earlier and suggest the 1915 Junkers J-1.

In terms of all metal – i.e. frame and skin, not a metal frame and canvas skin which still would have been rare until the 1920s – I think it has to be something from the Junkers stable. They were very modern but a bit overweight for the engines that were then available. Willing to be proved wrong though…

I’d stick with Junkers, but go a little earlier and suggest the 1915 Junkers J-1.