Onboard mechanics were able to service the engines in flight[1] due to the G.38's blended wing design, which provided access to all four power plants.

His initial attempt, the four-engined JG1, was developed during 1921-1922; but Junkers was forced to destroy the incomplete airplane based on post-World War I Allied demands citing the Treaty of Versailles.

In flight tests, the G.38 set four world records including speed, distance and duration for airplanes lifting a 5000 kg payload.

Structurally the G.38 conformed to standard Junkers' practice, with a multi-tubular spar cantilever wing covered (like the rest of the aircraft) in stressed, corrugated duraluminium.

[1] Passenger accommodation was sumptuous by today's standards and was meant to rival that found on the competing Zeppelin service offered by DELAG.

The leading edge of each wing was fitted with sloping windscreens giving these passengers the forward-facing view[1] usually available only to pilots.

On 1 July 1931 Luft Hansa initiated regularly scheduled service between Berlin and London on flights carrying up to 13 passengers.

Luft Hansa had to write off this aircraft due to the extensive damage, but test pilot, Wilhelm Zimmermann, survived the crash, and there were no other casualties.

[1][7] General characteristics Performance The G.38 was featured in the 2013 semi-fictional movie ''The Wind Rises'' by Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki, as was Hugo Junkers.