Claudius Dornier
Dornier Do D
The Dornier Do D was a single‑engine, high‑wing monoplane conceived by the German aeronautical pioneer Claudius Dornier in the early 1920s as a versatile transport and utility aircraft. First flown in 1924, the Do D emerged from Dornier’s earlier metal‑frame designs, employing an all‑metal cantilever wing and a stressed‑skin fuselage—an innovative departure from the wood‑and‑fabric constructions that dominated the era. Powered by a 300‑hp BMW IIIa inline engine, the aircraft could carry up to four passengers or a modest cargo load, while retaining a relatively short take‑off distance that made it suitable for operation from unprepared fields.
Although only a limited number were built, the Do D proved a critical stepping stone in the evolution of Dornier’s later, larger transports such as the Do 17 and the famous Do 28 series. Its robust construction demonstrated the advantages of metal airframes in terms of durability, maintenance, and aerodynamic efficiency, influencing both civilian and military designers across Europe. In the broader context of aviation history, the Dornier Do D represents an early successful application of all‑metal design principles, helping to usher in the transition from biplanes to the sleek monoplanes that would dominate the interwar period and beyond.
Although only a limited number were built, the Do D proved a critical stepping stone in the evolution of Dornier’s later, larger transports such as the Do 17 and the famous Do 28 series. Its robust construction demonstrated the advantages of metal airframes in terms of durability, maintenance, and aerodynamic efficiency, influencing both civilian and military designers across Europe. In the broader context of aviation history, the Dornier Do D represents an early successful application of all‑metal design principles, helping to usher in the transition from biplanes to the sleek monoplanes that would dominate the interwar period and beyond.
Classification
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 29
- First Flight
- 1924