Tante Ju, known as the Grande Dame of the Skies, is among the world’s oldest passenger aircraft still flying. Built in 1936 at the Junkers factory in Dessau, Germany, the Ju 52 operated by Lufthansa is that airline’s first and only historic commercial airplane. It has recently been entered on the list of protected items by the Hamburg Cultural Authority’s Office of Historic Monuments as a “Movable Monument.”
Each summer, thousands of passengers take seats aboard Tante Ju for sightseeing flights and scheduled journeys across Germany and Austria. These trips offer a rare chance to experience air travel much as it was in the early days of commercial flight.
Dr. Christine Onnen of the Hamburg Office of Historic Monuments highlights the aircraft’s significance: “The Tante Ju is of great aviation-historic importance. It is one of the few well-preserved examples of a once-innovative motorized aircraft design that became a commercial success in its era.”
For Lufthansa, the designation is both an honor and a responsibility. Dr. Jürgen Weber, honorary chairman of Deutsche Lufthansa’s board, described the inclusion as meaningful for the airline and the Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin Stiftung. He praised the engineers, technicians, pilots and cabin crew whose dedication keeps the flying monument operational and allows thousands of people each year to enjoy an authentic historical flying experience.
“We will do our utmost to ensure that our Tante Ju remains airworthy for many years,” Dr. Weber added, noting that the next major milestone is the aircraft’s centenary.