Dornier DO-24
By John Dorcey
One of the tri-motors visiting AirVenture 2005 is the rare
Dornier DO-24. The Dutch government turned to the Dornier Aircraft
Company when it needed an aircraft capable of flying to its
colonies.
Dornier was exclusively a flying boat manufacturer in its early
history and had become experts in that area. The aircraft was to
have a long range, reliability (thus the three engines), and a fair
capacity. It held 14 passengers.
Dornier manufactured over 200 aircraft of this type. This
particular airframe was built in 1944. During World War II the
DO-24 was used extensively by the German government as a Search and
Rescure (SAR) aircraft. Missions were flown in the Atlantic and
Mediterranean Oceans and the North and Baltic Seas. Pilots of all
nationalities were rescued - in all over 11,000 lives were
saved.
Dr. Ing Klaus Daser, Public Relations Consultant for Dornier,
related many stories of the history of the Dornier company and the
DO-24. Most telling, from a pilot's perspective was his comment,
"The DO-24 was not built as an airplane but as a boat." He also
told of hundreds of letters from rescued pilots, from all
countries, relating their rescue by the large flying boat. One
mission included over 118 refugees including men, women and
children.
After the war two DO-24 aircraft were given to the Spanish
government, who used the aircraft in border patrol work. Spain
returned the aircraft to Dornier in 1970. More than 15 years
elapsed as the aircraft underwent major rework including a
conversion from flying boat to an amphibian. Modifications included
a major wing rework and upgrading the engines to the Pratt and
Whitney PT6. The aircraft now holds a DO-24ATT designation; the ATT
represents Amphibian Technology Testbed.
Christian Kerrk, Toronto, Canada, one of just 4 pilots rated in
the aircraft, described its flying characteristics, "The controls
are tight for an aircraft of its size, the hull is very efficient
and takeoff run is very short."
Three-engine cruise speed is 140 knots and the aircraft has an
endurance of over seven hours. Certificated for single pilot
operations (but always flown with two) the aircraft is equipped
with GPS and is routinely flown IFR.
Since April 2004 the aircraft has been on a world tour in an
effort to raise funds for UNICEF. The tour will continue after this
stop in Oshkosh with a stop in New York City on August 27th. This
stop will recreate the visit of Dornier's DO-X on August 27,
1931.