Swissair received a Junkers Ju 86B-0 in 1936. Registered HB-IXI, it crashed near Frankfurt at the end of 1937. A replacement Ju 86B-1 was delivered and registered HB-IXE. In early 1939 it was re-engined with BMW 132 Dc radials (making it equivalent to a Ju 86Z-2) and re-registered as HB-IXA. This aircraft was lost in a crash near Constance on 19 July 1939.
Junkers Ju 86 Z Werknummer 086 0952 was built in1937 in Dessau, Germany and registered as D-AGEY. During March 1937, over a three-week period, it was piloted by Hans Kommoll on a ferry flight from Germany to Australia. Just before landing, an engine failed resulting in it swinging off the runway. It took about five weeks before a replacement engine arrived from Germany by sea.
On May 14, 1937 it was registered in Australia as VH-UYA and named “Lawrence Hargrave” for the British-born Australian engineer, explorer, astronomer, inventor and aeronautical pioneer. This aircraft was acquired by Sydney wool broker, H. Beinssen in exchange for £23,000 worth of Australian wool being shipped to Germany.
Placed on charter to Airlines of Australia Ltd. it was hoped that the diesel engines would prove more economical to operate than other aircraft. However, engine reliability problems resulted in the operator cancelling the lease. The aircraft was shipped back Germany in August where it became D-AREY.
Junkers Ju 86 Z Lawrence Hargreaves
Junkers Ju 86 Z Lawrence Hargreaves still with German markings
Junkers Ju 86 Z Lawrence Hargreaves still with German markings
Junkers Ju 86Z-2 Lawrence Hargrave in Australia 1937
Junkers Ju 86 Z Lawrence Hargreaves
Junkers Ju 86 Z Lawrence Hargreaves with Australian registration
Junkers Ju 86 Z Lawrence Hargreaves
Junkers Ju 86 Z Lawrence Hargreaves undergoing engine maintenance