RIMOWA Unveils the "RIMOWA F13" Aircraft at the World's Largest Air Show | RIMOWA

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Limited Edition RIMOWA Junkers F13 to Launch Next Year

RIMOWA F13 Aircraft Unveiled at World's Largest Air Show

It is a well-known anecdote that the aluminum luggage line from luggage brand RIMOWA was inspired by a legendary aircraft that flew in the early days of aviation. Now, a replica of that aircraft, the Junkers, has been recreated. It was announced at "EAA AirVenture," the world's largest air show, held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA, and is scheduled to fly next year.

Text by KAJII Makoto (OPENERS)

New Company Established for Aircraft Manufacturing

The hallmark of RIMOWA's aluminum luggage is its parallel grooved aluminum construction. It is widely known that this processing was inspired by the exterior of the Junkers aircraft, but RIMOWA has actually manufactured a replica of the world's first all-metal passenger aircraft. The company has established a new company for the production of this aircraft and plans to manufacture it on an order basis.

The original Junkers F13 made its maiden flight in 1919. This lightweight, cantilever low-wing aircraft quickly replaced fabric-covered wooden aircraft. It excelled in reliability, robustness, and long service life, coupled with a design that required minimal maintenance. Thus, the aircraft revolutionized the world of aviation. By 1933, over 330 units had been manufactured, but today, only a handful can be seen in museums, and none are airworthy.

Dieter Morscheck, President and CEO of RIMOWA, who has been involved in this project from the beginning, shared his excitement: "It has been my dream for many years to recreate the 'mother' of all aircraft. I am overjoyed that this dream has finally come true. I was overwhelmingly impressed by the appearance of the RIMOWA Junkers F13. In response to requests for a replica of the F13, we have established a new company, RIMOWA Flugzeugwerke AG, in Switzerland. We will manufacture the F13 to meet market demand."

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Truly, "Flying Grooves"

The team that manufactured the RIMOWA Junkers F13 first conducted extensive research, including detailed 3D laser scanning at a museum in Paris. It was discovered that this aircraft is composed of 2,600 individual parts and assembled with 35,000 rivets.

The cabin can accommodate four passengers, while the pilot and mechanic crew sit in an open cockpit. The single-engine aircraft is powered by a 450-horsepower Pratt & Whitney R985 Wasp Junior engine, with a top speed of 170 km/h and a range of 600 km under full load.

We look forward to the arrival of the "flying grooves" scheduled for next year.