Vintage JU-52 crashes in Switzerland

One thing to realize about aircraft of the vintage of the Ju-52 is that the wings of aircraft of that era were very stiff, designed not to flex very much.  As a result, they do not suffer the fatique limits of modern airliners with fatique limits due to normal flexing in flight.  As long as corrosion is kept away, the wings could last almost forever.  Also, since they are not pressurized, the flexing and fatique of the fuselage is minimal.

I've read that this aircraft was used in the movies "Where Eagles Dare" and "Valkyrie".

Tragic loss.

Although I don't think it's the case here, aircraft accidents happen in the Alps when aircraft collide with power lines or cable car lines. Those things stretch miles across valleys.

Some 20 yrs ago I spent a year helping maintain and operate a B-17 out of Geneseo, NY. The personal investment individuals had, both monetary and time, on that airplane was impressive. Maintenance and inspection was far in excess of any requirement, as was crew training. I had the pleasure of flying on it several times with no trepidation, ditto rides I had in a BT-13, B-25, and C-47. I would hazard a guess that the Warbirds as a group are probably the best maintained planes in the sky. Now pilot and ground error is always an issue no matter what you move in.

My dad used to fly one of the Colorado senators around the state and into small airports in the mountains. He used to say that nothing taxes the skill of a pilot like mountain flying, and he flew P-47's during the war.

fotofrank

They have to be well maintained to remain in license. At the altitude the Ju-52 was flying at, in the mountains, there could have been wind shear that swept the airplane from the sky. It happens. Don't blame the airplane.

 

 

I agree. Pilot error and weather can be unpredictable - especially up in the Alps. There's no telling with the winds or crosswinds.

I just don’t believe in “when your time is up,it’s up”.If that’s the truth then we need not take any safety precautions because it wouldn‘t make any difference if it’s “our time”.

But I get your point,you can buy it sitting in your easy chair also,or in your car,or a modern jet.

post deleted by me. It was an innocent comment that in hindsight might lead to trouble on this site. Sorry.

I flew on Martin Caidin's JU-52 twice back in the late '70s. Built in 1936, it still flies today in Germany. https://www.dlbs.de/en/Fleet/Junkers-JU-52/Timeline.php Three years ago I flew on the B-29 FIFI. Back in March I flew on one of EAA's Fords. The one I flew on was built in 1929. I flew on a Bell 47 (M*A*S*H) helicopter last week at AirVenture. I have flown on many vintage airplanes, too many to list here. This may seem fatalistic, but when your time is up, it's up. Whether you are sitting in your recliner at home, driving your SUV to Walmart, or flying on vintage airplane. There is nothing inherently unsafe about these airplanes to warrant being afraid of them. I prefer flying in a vintage airplane at 5000 or 6000 feet altitude rather flying in a metal tube at 30,000 feet any day. All of the vintage airplanes I have encountered in over forty years of flying have been and are meticulously maintained. They have to be well maintained to remain in license. At the altitude the Ju-52 was flying at, in the mountains, there could have been wind shear that swept the airplane from the sky. It happens. Don't blame the airplane.

End rant.