fuselage in a cut out between the elevators; the latter were aerodynamically balanced but the rudder was not. The main undercarriage legs, with prominent shock absorbers, were mounted on the upper fuselage longerons. Two bracing struts reached forward to the lower fuselage below the engine and the wheels were linked by a hinged axle centrally mounted to the lower fuselage with further struts. The T 23 was powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) Le Rhône rotary engine, enclosed in a fully circular cowling of moderate chord, driving a two-bladed propeller. Operational history The T 23 first flew on 14 September 1923 as a biplane. After a few months testing, it was converted to the monoplane configuration. Compared with the biplane, the T 23E had the expected higher landing and take-off speeds, together with longer take-off distances, associated with the higher wing loading. It was faster by 15 km/h and could carry a payload about 9% greater. All four T 24s built were sold to flying clubs after the experiments were over. Variants Junkers T 23D (D - Doppeldecker - biplane) The biplane version of the aircraft. Junkers T 23E (E - Eindecker - monoplane) The monoplane version of the aircraft with the lower wing not fitted. Junkers T 26 An aerodynamically refined version of the T 23, powered by an air-cooled Junkers L1a 62 kW (83 hp) 6-cylinder inline engine. The latter was mounted in a circular cowling like that used on the T 19, its diameter determined by the large circular blower on the front of the L1a, with cylinder heads exposed. This installation increased the length by 280 mm (11 in). Like the T 23, it came in D and E configurations. Slightly slower than the T 23 but almost double the range (345 km, 214 mi). It was again too expensive for flying schools. It first flown 23 October 1923. No more than 11 were built. Junkers T 27 A single T 26D was engined with a 95 kW (128 hp), 9-cylinder Clerget 9Z, flying in 1925. Specifications (T 23E) References 1920s German civil aircraft T 023 Rotary-engined aircraft