Dornier Delphin

The Dornier Delphin was a German amphibious aircraft developed by Dornier Flugzeugwerke in the early 1930s. First flying in 1933, the Delphin (German for “dolphin”) was conceived as a three‑engine, high‑wing monoplane that could operate from both water and conventional airfields, reflecting Dornier’s long‑standing expertise in metal‑skin seaplane construction. Its all‑metal, stressed‑skin fuselage and wing structure gave the aircraft a sleek, streamlined appearance and reduced weight compared with contemporary wooden designs. Powered by three Argus As 10c inverted‑V‑12 engines mounted on the wing’s leading edge, the Delphin could reach a maximum speed of about 210 km/h, a service ceiling of 5 500 m and a range of roughly 1 200 km, making it suitable for coastal patrol, transport of small groups of passengers, and corporate travel. Only a limited production run of about 170 units was completed before World War II shifted Dornier’s focus to military trainers and bombers. Nevertheless, the Delphin demonstrated the practicality of all‑metal amphibians, influenced later designs such as the Do 214, and cemented Dornier’s reputation for engineering versatile, reliable seaplanes that could bridge land‑water operations. Today a few restored examples are displayed in museums, reminding enthusiasts of this pioneering amphibian’s role in the evolution of mixed‑environment aviation.