It was developed in the late 1920s with the goal of producing a competitive civil aircraft that possessed a minimal production cost and a high load-carrying capability.

It was only ever produced in limited quantities, the primary customer of the type being the German airline Deutsche Luft Hansa.

[1] Nevertheless, the design team held to several established principals for the project, specifically the pursuit of low manufacturing costs and a comparatively generous load-carrying capacity.

[2] It could easily be removed for maintenance or replacement purposes by simply undoing four bolts that secured the engine bearer to the four primary longerons.

[4] The majority of aircraft flew with the national airline Deutsche Luft Hansa; it operated the type through to sometime in 1936.

In 1929, an example was built with a BMW VI engine and fitted out for aerial photography and survey work and designated A 21; the cabin of this aircraft was equipped with a darkroom.

[citation needed] Later the same year, the BMW engine was used on a further five airliners for Luft Hansa, these being designated A 29.

[citation needed] Data from European Transport Aircraft since 1910,[5] National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics[9]General characteristics Performance