The Dornier Do 31 is an experimental vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) jet-propelled transport designed and produced by West German aircraft manufacturer Dornier.
On 10 February 1967, the first prototype (E1) conducted its maiden flight, powered by just the two Pegasus engines. During July 1967, the third prototype (E3), which was furnished with all ten of its engines, performed the first hovering flight. During December 1967, forward-and-backward transitions between vertical and horizontal phases of flight were successfully conducted.
The Do 31 was the first, and so far only, vertical takeoff jet transport ever built. During April 1970, it was announced that the project had been terminated, although the Do 31 performed its final public flight on 4 May 1970 during the Internationale Luft- und Raumfahrtausstellung (ILA) in Hannover.
| Role | VTOL transport |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Dornier Flugzeugwerke |
| First flight | 10 February 1967 |
| Status | Project cancelled in April 1970 |
| Primary user | German Air Force |
| Number built | 3 |
Both flying prototypes have been preserved in Germany, but the fate and current location of the non-flying testbed (E2) is not known.
- Dornier Do 31 E1, D-9530, is preserved and displayed at the Dornier Museum Friedrichshafen.
- Dornier Do 31 E3, D-9531, was initially put into storage at Oberpfaffenhofen, then for several years on display in the open in the courtyard of the Deutsches Museum in Munich and after restoration is now on display at the Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Schleissheim at Oberschleissheim near Munich.
Specifications (Do 31E)
General characteristics
- Crew: Two
- Capacity: 36 troops or 24 casualty stretchers and 3,500 kg (7,715 lb) useful load
- Length: 20.53 m (67 ft 4 in)
- Wingspan: 18 m (59 ft 3 in)
- Height: 8.53 m (28 ft 0 in)
- Wing area: 57 m2 (613.56 sq ft)
- Gross weight: 22,453 kg (49,500 lb) (VTOL)
- Max takeoff weight: 27,422 kg (60,500 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Pegasus BE.53/2 turbofan, 68.95 kN (15,500 lbf) thrust each
- Powerplant: 8 × Rolls-Royce RB162-4D Vertically mounted turbojet lift engines, 19.57 kN (4,400 lbf) thrust each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 730 km/h (452 mph, 393 kn)
- Cruise speed: 650 km/h (404 mph, 351 kn)
- Range: 1,800 km (1,120 mi, 970 nmi) with maximum payload
- Service ceiling: 10,700 m (35,100 ft)
- Rate of climb: 19.2 m/s (3,780 ft/min) -using Pegasus engines only
Photos Rob Vogelaar
