Rimowa Reprises An Aviation traditional, The Junkers F13

Flying and suitcases go hand in hand, so it is smart that the German luxury baggage model Rimowa has brought an airplane to its arsenal of goods. however as a substitute of designing a sleek up to date craft from scratch, the corporate took a web page from the history books and painstakingly recreated the traditional Junkers F13.

the first business all-metallic aircraft, the Junkers F13 took its inaugural flight in 1919. To make it sturdy and light-weight, its dressmaker, Hugo Junkers, special corrugated Duralumin, an aluminum alloy. The plane was once a technological success; it used to be able to travel long distances and raise heavy masses. the united states Postal service used these planes of their fleet and so they were additionally used in militaries around the globe.

When Rimowa made its first all-metal suitcase within the Fifties—an revolutionary transfer at the time—designer Richard Morszeck opted to make use of the exact same subject material in a identical grooved texture. those suitcases persevered the test of time and have grow to be classics in their very own proper. furthermore, the spirit of innovation at Rimowa has sparked the company’s next technology of featherweight baggage constructed from polycarbonate. If you have not noticed these graceful lookers in airports prior to, you’ll be able to indubitably see them now.

Very a lot a keenness venture for Rimowa, the reprised airplane is a carbon replica of the unique. Of the 330 that have been produced between 1919 and 1933, few exist; most are in museums and all are grounded. Rimowa took a 3-d laser scan of an F13 in a Parisian museum, making note of every element (it consists of 2,600 person components) and the way it’s all assembled (with over 35,000 rivets). The 30-foot-long aircraft seats 4 and has a 50-foot wingspan and range of about 373 miles.

If all goes to devise, the plane is anticipated to be airborne in 2016. No word on the associated fee, but if the common price of Rimowa’s spendy suitcases is any indication, it can be within the stratosphere. buyers with cash to burn can pre-order one on the company’s microsite.