Aircraft Certified In 1991 Finally In Production
By: Chris Batcheller
Looking at the giant seaplane on the grounds of Oshkosh
Airventure 2009, you would never know that this airplane is full of
history. The airplane sits among the displays with the massive
wings towering above your head. The two inline engines are perched
in a nacelle on top of the high wing. Struts attach the
nacelle to the fuselage like they were strapped on.
It’s basic design dates back to the Dornier Superwal Flying
Boat in 1926. The Dornier Seaplane Company is no stranger
to the seaplane business, having has built over
1000 amphibian aircraft since the early
1900’s.
The airplane was developed in the 1980’s when famed
aviation pioneer Clyde Dornier was still alive, and this all
composite airplane was certified in 1991. After lying dormant for
18 years, owner Coronado Dornier and the Dornier Seaplane
Company have brought it back to market.
Inside, the airplane is as big as a Beechcraft King Air 350 and
it can be configured in seating arrangements from 2 to 12
passengers. It is a full 20 knots faster than the Caravan on
floats and 1/3 larger than the aircraft manufactured by
Cessna. The airplane can takeoff and land in 3 foot seas.
The Dornier Seaplane is expected to serve three distinct
markets. The first is the high net worth individual.
This seaplane is expected to appeal to this market because it is a
multi-engine aircraft with turbine reliability, composite,
comfortable and fast.
The airplane is also expected to work well for the commercial
airline market in coastal areas. The airplane can be configured in
up to a 12 passenger configuration. The composite
construction is expected to cut down maintenance for operators that
currently use metal airplanes.
Foreign Governments have also expressed an interest in this
aircraft. Many countries have extensive coastlines to protect
and this aircraft can cover a long distance or loiter depending on
mission requirements.
Dornier Chief Executive Joe
Walker
Currently the company is completing a site selection process.
They have narrowed potential manufacturing sites to two locations
somewhere in North America, and expect to announce the final site
selection sometime in the next 3-6 months. The company
employs 20-25 people including a German Engineering Staff. They
hope to sell 50 airplanes a year, and ramp up their staff to about
250 people. The company also expects that producing the
aircraft will create over 75 jobs for the engine maker, Pratt and
Whitney.
The airplane is expected to sell for 6 Million, fully equipped
including modern glass panel avionics.