The aircraft prototype of the very versatile German designer Ernst Zindel, created by converting design of single engine variant into three engine ones, took off first time on 7th March 1932, and soon entered into fleet of the German air carrier Lufthansa. Thanking to a great reliability, robust structure and almost STOL characteristics, a number of planes were exported abroad, especially to the South America countries. In the same time, the German air force, the Luftwaffe, introduced them into inventory – firstly as bombers, but by the end of the Spanish civil war, Ju 52s became settled as multipurpose transport plane. By the time it was developed float equipped variant, as well as a special version for magnetic mines destroying. The Junkers Ju 52/3m is one of only four aircraft types being operational from the first to the last day of the W.W.II. in Europe. Till the middle of 1944, when Ju 52’s production ceased, it were made 4845 planes, of which 2804 during war time. After the W.W.II the Ju 52 production continued in France, built under license, named AAC.1 Toucan, and in Spain, (CASA 352), where production ceased 1952, after 170 manufactured planes, and the last operative plane of this type was withdrawn from operative use 1975. Several preserved planes still flays as old timers, owned mainly by private collections.
