RJunkers J 1 – First All-Metal Monoplane of WWI – 1917 Photo, “The Blechesel”

This exceptional vintage photograph captures the Junkers J 1, the world’s first all-metal aircraft and a landmark in aviation engineering. Designed by Prof. Hugo Junkers and first flown on December 12, 1915, the J 1 earned the nickname "Blechesel" (“Sheet Metal Donkey”) and revolutionized aircraft construction with its duralumin monoplane design and cantilever wings—eliminating the need for external bracing.

The image is dated 3 May 1917 and shows the aircraft in profile, the German Iron Cross markings clearly visible on both fuselage and rudder. An unidentified man—possibly a Junkers engineer or test pilot—stands beside the machine, providing scale and emphasizing its sleek, unbraced wing structure.

Although the J 1 never saw combat service, it was an extraordinary technology demonstrator whose innovations directly influenced later Junkers military and civilian designs.

Annotations in both ink and pencil on the front read “JUNKER J1,” reinforcing its identification. The photo offers remarkable clarity and detail of this rare experimental type, making it a prized addition for WWI aviation historians, technology historians, and serious collectors of early aircraft imagery.