Junker Ju 52 who flew in Ecuador has a new house

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Today I tell you the story of, Junker Ju 52 with registration D-AQUI, that flew a few years in Ecuador and now he has a new house to preserve his legacy.

Some years before World War II, Several now historic transport aircraft appeared on the aeronautical market, clear in its beginning of exclusive military use, as was also a few years later the Douglas DC-3. The direct competition was the Junker Ju 52 aleman, that although it would not reach the level of production and success as the Douglas, became an important part of the air force and later in several civil companies around the world.

I will focus on this post to talk about a very special one that even, continued flying until very recently on tourist flights, but after his somewhat forced withdrawal he had an uncertain future, but now it has found a new resting space and will continue to share its historical legacy with a very interesting step through Ecuador.

The history of Junkers Ju 52 that flew in Ecuador

The Junkers Ju 52, originally known by its license plate D-AQUI, It's not just a plane; He is a living legend of world aviation. Manufactured in 1936 (serial number 5489), This three-engine giant has had more lives than a cat, operating under different flags and names for almost a century. In fact, With great affection, Ecuadorian aviation lovers remember its registration as if this plane were FROM HERE, that is, from Ecuador for its passage through our country.

In its beginnings, The plane was named Fritz Simon. Shortly after, It was sold to the Norwegian airline DNL, where he flew under the name Falken. Nevertheless, The story took a drastic turn 1940:

• Confiscation: After the invasion of Norway, the German army took control of the aircraft.
• post war: At the end of the conflict, It was returned to its Norwegian owners and rebuilt in 1947 with a new fuselage.
• Service at SAS: Under the name Askeladden, flew extreme coastal routes between Tromsø and Kirkenes to 1956.

On 1957, The plane began one of its most epic chapters when it was acquired by the airline TAO (Eastern Air Transport) in Ecuador.

• Logistics: It arrived in the country disassembled in wooden boxes and was reassembled at the Salinas Military Base..
• Extreme Flights: Renamed Amazon, The plane operated from Quito (a 2,800 meters high) towards settlements in the Amazon basin.
• Feats: Under the command of Captain Gonzalo Ruales, the Ju 52 crossed Andean passes 13,000 feet high to land on improvised runways on the banks of the Amazon tributaries.

After six years of hard service, was withdrawn in 1963 due to the rise of oil exploration, which required aircraft with greater cargo capacity.

After spending six years abandoned in Quito, an American pilot bought it for $52,500. Nevertheless, His world fame came in 1975 when the writer Martin Caidin acquired it and named it "Iron Annie".

• Show Star: Based in Florida, became a main attraction at air festivals.
• World Records: Caidin achieved impressive milestones, as the shortest takeoff recorded for a Ju 52 and the world record for the largest number of people walking on wings (wing-walking) simultaneously.

On 1984, The German airline Lufthansa recovered this historical piece. The plane made an unprecedented trip: the only transatlantic flight of a Ju 52 de oeste a is, passing through Greenland and Iceland until reaching Hamburg.

This plane stopped operating in 2018 after damage was found to a structural part in the engine suspension, which took some time later for Lufthansa to decide to end support for the operation and decide to transform it into a piece of museo.

Hoy, although its official registration is D-CDLH, proudly maintains the historic D-AQUI painted on its wings and its current name, Berlin Tempelhof, in honor of classic aviation.

Your new house

I wanted to write this story for quite some time and just, news arrived from Germany, coinciding with the next 100 Lufthansa years, the airline reported, to the joy of all that the Ju 52 "Ecuadorian" has a new house.

Just in time for the start of the anniversary year, the Junkers Ju 52 and Lockheed L-1649A Super Star have finally been accepted into “Lufthansa Group Hangar One”. This means that the two central exhibitions, which will soon be on display in the new conference and visitor center, they are already complete.

The first Junker Ju 52 was added to the Lufthansa fleet in 1932 and quickly became the backbone of the airline's aircraft fleet. Valued for its economy and reliability, the plane represented about 50% of the Lufthansa fleet at that time.

The “Aunt Ju” is much more than a plane: It is a symbol of the pioneer spirit, engineering excellence and the fascination of aviation. With its striking corrugated metal appearance, three distinctive engines and unprecedented reliability, the Ju 52 has captivated generations of pilots, passengers and aviation enthusiasts. First developed in the 1990s 1930, the Ju 52 set new standards in passenger and cargo transportation. Its versatility made it an indispensable companion in civil and military aviation..

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