Dornier
Dornier Do 335 A Pfeil
Photo: Robert Deering 10/23/2006
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Chantilly, Virginia

Dornier Flugzeugwerke was a German aircraft manufacturer founded in Friedrichshafen in 1914 by Claudius Dornier. Over the course of its long lifespan, the company produced many notable designs for both the civil and military markets.

More about the Dornier Do 335 A Pfeil

HISTORY

Dornier Flugzeugwerke was a German aircraft manufacturer founded in Friedrichshafen in 1914 by Claudius Dornier. Over the course of its long lifespan, the company produced many notable designs for both the civil and military markets.

Originally Dornier Metallbau, Dornier Flugzeugwerke took over Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen production facilities (Weingarten, Warnemünde, and the former Zeppelin shed at Manzell) when it failed in 1923. Dornier rose to prominence in the 1920s and 1930s as a manufacturer of large, all-metal flying boats, including the 1924 Wal (English: Whale) and the Do X. Dornier also built a series of successful land planes, including the Komet (Comet) and Merkur (Mercury) that were used by Luft Hansa and other European carriers during the 1920s and early 30s. Dornier built its aircraft outside Germany during much of this period, in compliance with the restrictions placed on German aircraft manufacturers by the Treaty of Versailles. Foreign factories licence-building Dornier products included CMASA and Piaggio in Italy, CASA in Spain, Kawasaki in Japan, and Aviolanda in the Netherlands. Once the Nazi government came to power and abandoned the treaty's restrictions, Dornier resumed production in Germany.

Dornier's most significant military aircraft design before and during World War II was the Do 17, nicknamed The Flying Pencil. It was developed and first flown in 1934 as a commercial aircraft in competition for a Lufthansa contract. Due to its narrow fuselage (hence its nickname) it was not commercially attractive and was passed over by Lufthansa. Dornier then further developed it as a military aircraft with a prototype bomber first flying in 1935. It was employed by Rebel forces in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War. Production continued within Germany and this versatile two-engined aircraft was developed by the Luftwaffe into multiple combat variations. The medium bomber variant saw much service during the early part of World War II including extensive use in the Battle of Britain. It was later developed into an effective nightfighter to defend Germany from the RAF bomber offensive. Dornier developed the successful Do 217 based on the Do 17; ostensibly looking like its younger sibling, this larger and much heavier bomber was in fact a completely new design. Of note, Dornier also developed the fastest piston-engined fighter of the war, the two-engined Do 335, introduced too late to enter combat service.

Dornier's history of successful flying boats (the "Wal" family) lead to new models that saw service in several armed forces around the world as well as Germany, including the Do 22, Do 18, and Do 24.

After WWII, aircraft production was again forbidden in Germany, and Dornier relocated to Spain and then to Switzerland where the firm provided aeronautical consultancy services until once again returning to Germany in 1954. Post-war, Dornier quickly re-established itself with highly successful small STOL transports such as the Do 27 and Do 28. Additionally, in 1974 it developed the Alpha Jet as part of a joint venture with French aircraft manufacturers Dassault-Breguet. The plane was well received and established itself as the new standard NATO trainer during the 1970s and 80s.

In 1985, Dornier became a member of the Daimler-Benz group integrating its aeronautic assets with the parent company. As part of this transaction, Lindauer Dornier GmbH was spun off, creating a separate, family-owned firm, concentrating on textile machinery design and manufacturing. The rest of the company was split into several subsidiaries for defence, satellites, medtech and aircraft.

In 1996, the majority of Dornier Aircraft was acquired by Fairchild Aircraft, forming Fairchild Dornier. This company became insolvent in early 2002. Production of its 328 Jet was acquired by US company Avcraft. Asian interests continued to show interest in its 728 version in August, 2004, but production had not restarted. The other subsidiaries became part of the EADS, the medtech division was sold to an investment company and now bears the name Dornier MedTech.

Dornier Medtech manufactures medical equipment, such as the Dornier S lithotriptor, HM3, Compact Delta to treat kidney stones. Dornier MedTech also manufactures laser devices for a wide range of applications.

Source: Wikipedia 

AIRCRAFT      
Before 1933      
Dornier Gs 1919   Precursor to Wal destroyed by Military Inter-Allied Commission of Control 
Dornier Do A Libelle 1921   Redesignated Do 12
Dornier Spatz Landplane 1922   Version of Do A
Dornier Do B Merkur  1926   Development of Do C
Dornier Do C Komet 1921    
Dornier Do C 2, 3, 4  1931   Fighter unrelated to earlier Do C, redesignated Do 10
Dornier Do D  1929    
Dornier Do E 1924    
Dornier Do F  1932   Redesignated Do 11, 13, 23
Dornier Do G Greif     Cancelled 1920 project
Dornier Do H Falke  1922   Development of Dornier-Zeppelin D.
Dornier Do I 1923   Twin engine long range reconnaissance aircraft
Dornier Do J Wal 1922    
Dornier Do K  1929    
Dornier Do L Delphin 1920    
Dornier Do N 1926   Design for Japanese as Kawasaki Ka 87
Dornier Do O Wal 1924   Custom built version of Do J
Dornier Do P 1930    
Dornier Do R.2 and R.4 Superwal 1924    
Dornier Do S 1930    
Dornier Do T     Komet/Merkur converted to Air Ambulance
Dornier Do U     Cancelled civil variant of Do Y
Dornier Do X  1929    
Dornier Do Y 1930   Redesignated Do 15
       
1933-1945      
Dornier Do 10      
Dornier Do 11      
Dornier Do 12      
Dornier Do 13      
Dornier Do 14      
Dornier Do 15      
Dornier Do 16      
Dornier Do 17      
Dornier Do 18      
Dornier Do 19      
Dornier Do 20    Project
Dornier Do 22      
Dornier Do 23      
Dornier Do 24      
Dornier Do 26      
Dornier Do 29 1934    
Dornier Do 212      
Dornier Do 214      Project
Dornier Do 215      
Dornier Do 216      Project
Dornier Do 217      
Dornier Do 247      Project
Dornier Do 317      
Dornier Do 335 Pfeil (Arrow)      
Dornier Do 635      
Dornier P.59     Project
Dornier P.85     Project
Dornier P.184     Project
Dornier P.232     Project
Dornier P.247     Project
Dornier P.252     Project
Dornier P.254      Project
Dornier P 256      
Dornier P.273     Project
       
1945-present      
Dornier Do 25      Prototype for Do 27
Dornier Do 27      
Dornier Do 28     Developed from Do 27
Dornier Do 29      
Dornier Do 31      
Dornier Do 32      
Dornier 128      
Dornier Do 132      
Dornier 228      Developed from Do 28
Dornier Do 231      
Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet      
Dornier 328      
Fairchild Dornier 328JET      
Fairchild Dornier 428JET      
Fairchild Dornier 728 family      
Dornier Aerodyne      
Dornier Seawings Seastar      
Dornier S-Ray 007      
Dornier LA-2000     Study for a stealth strike aircraft with full delta wing similar to A-12 Avenger