martin schulz
04-12-2005, 06:27 AM
I made a (poor) joke in Brians thread about Hydroplanes. I thought a term like this must apply to "water planes" so I posted a pic of the dutch Dornier 24, which was a plane much used by the German Luftwaffe (Airforce) during WWII.
However, I think those "Flugboote" or "Wasserflugzeuge" are worth to be mentioned around here. So here is a short history summary:
In 1926 the Dutch Navy ordered a number of Dornier Wal flying boats to patrol the vasteness of the Dutch Indies, with distanses streching out sometimes more than from one side of Europe to the other. The Wal's performed good, but soon got outdated and in 1934 the Navy started an investigation into a succeeder for the Wal. Around that time Dornier-Metallbauten G.m.b.H. in Friedrichshafen made the first prototype for the Do-18, a modernized version of the Wal. The Do-18 did not meet up to the required standards of the Dutch Navy. C. Sanders, then officer 2nd class of the Navy, made up the requierements of the successor of the Wal. The new plane had to be bigger, equipped with three engines, none of these to use pusher propellers, a maximum speed of 315 km/h, be of an all-metal construction and comforatble enough for long distances.
With these specifications in hand the Dutch Navy went to a number of company's for their answer to the requirements. Fokker came up with the B.V, which was turned down, just like the design of the American Sikorsky company. Dornier's design, the P.14 was ready in 1935 and was the only of the three that could be ready in time to meet the requirements of the Dutch Navy. Before the year was over a detailed model was ready to be shown to the Dutch.
Very soon Dornier was able to make an offer, after which on August 6th 1936 the first contract was signed for the delivery of 6 flying boats to the Dutch Navy, getting the designation Do-24.
The Luftwaffe was also in need for a replacement for the old Wal flying boats in use with the Kustenfliegerstaffeln. The specifications that the RLM issued were almost on the same lines as those of the Dutch Navy and Dornier entered the P.14 project. Dornier now had competition of the Ha-138 design of the Hamburger Flugzeugbau (later Blohm und Voss), also a three engined flying boat.
It was decided to build four prototypes, the Do-24 V1 and Do-24 V2 for the RLM and the Do-24 V3 and Do-24 V4 for the Dutch. The last two were also the first of the Dutch order for six aircraft and were to build at Friedrichshafen as were the two RLM prototypes.
When Germany invaded The Netherlands on May 10th 1940 only 7 Do-24K’s were delivered by Aviolanda to The Dutch East Indies. 13 Do-24K-2’s were in various stages of building and the stocks were filled with parts for another 16 examples. There were enough Wright Cyclone engine for at least 11 Do-24’s. Still in May Oberingenieur Stellmann returned to Aviolanda with the RLM order to make the two most complete examples, the X-38 and X-39, airworthy. The interest came mainly from the German Seenotdienst that for a long time was eagerly awaiting such an aircraft like the Do-24 if not the Do-24 itself. The tactical units within the Luftwaffe had first choice concerning plane-choice and so the Seenotdienst had to make do with aging Heinkel He-59’s. Now they saw their chance clear to get their hands on the impounded Dutch Do-24’s.
http://www.dornier24.com/images/pictures/Do-24_p128.jpg
June 1940 Flugkapitan Karl Born, commander of Seenotflugkommando I Norderney, came to Aviolanda in Papendrecht with a few representatives of Dornier and factory testpilot Erich Gundermann. They came to check out the X-38. Born was thrilled he could get his hands on the do-24’s in the factory because this meant a vast modernisation of the Seenotdienst, Born even called the Do-24 the "wonder plane". As fast as they could the X-38 was made ready and was flown by pilots from the LZA (Luftzeugamt) to Travemunde. During this flight the X-38 still had the Dutch camouflage, but was equipped with German nationality markings and the registration D-AFBT. The gunturrets were removed because the pilots of the Seenotdienst were under the impression they were protected by the flag of the International Red Cross. Small changes were made so the Do-24 could be used in air-sea rescue. July 19th 1940 the former X-38, now completely painted white with red crosses on the fuselage, was delivered to Seenotkommando I (Seenotstaffel 4). Because the Seenotdienst was on paper a civilian organisation the Do-24 had to be equipped with with a civilian registration and because of reasons unknown the registration D-AFBT was cancelled and D-AEAV was applied.
In the same way as the X-38 the X-39 arrived at Norderney with the registration D-APDA. Both aircraft were equipped with American Wright Cyclone’s and were the pride of the Seenotdienst, now it was only time to wait for the first operational mission. Read all about that first mission here.
http://www.dornier24.com/images/pictures/Do-24_p251.jpg
September three more arrived at the LZA at Travemunde followed by four in October. The civilian registration and white painting had by that time long vanished because the English still tried to shoot the aircraft down and on too many occasions did with the loss of many lives, which also included English military personel.
At least 13 Do-24N-1’s were delivered to the Luftwaffe in this style. When the stock of Wright Cyclone’s had run dry the Do-24’s were equipped with BMW 132N radials delivering 685 hp and thus the Do-24T-1 was born.
http://www.dornier24.com/images/pictures/Do-24_p246.jpg
All information taken from www.dornier24.com (http://www.dornier24.com[/i])
The grandson of the founder Claude Dornier Iren Dornier still flys the Do 24 ATT on shows. The restored Do 24 ATT is equipped with modern instruments and engines (Pratt & Whitney Turboprop). This is the only still active plane.
http://www.bredow-web.de/ILA_2004/Traditionsflugzeuge/Dornier_Do-24/DO-24-1.JPG
http://www.bredow-web.de/ILA_2004/Traditionsflugzeuge/Dornier_Do-24/DO-24-Ansicht2.JPG
However, I think those "Flugboote" or "Wasserflugzeuge" are worth to be mentioned around here. So here is a short history summary:
In 1926 the Dutch Navy ordered a number of Dornier Wal flying boats to patrol the vasteness of the Dutch Indies, with distanses streching out sometimes more than from one side of Europe to the other. The Wal's performed good, but soon got outdated and in 1934 the Navy started an investigation into a succeeder for the Wal. Around that time Dornier-Metallbauten G.m.b.H. in Friedrichshafen made the first prototype for the Do-18, a modernized version of the Wal. The Do-18 did not meet up to the required standards of the Dutch Navy. C. Sanders, then officer 2nd class of the Navy, made up the requierements of the successor of the Wal. The new plane had to be bigger, equipped with three engines, none of these to use pusher propellers, a maximum speed of 315 km/h, be of an all-metal construction and comforatble enough for long distances.
With these specifications in hand the Dutch Navy went to a number of company's for their answer to the requirements. Fokker came up with the B.V, which was turned down, just like the design of the American Sikorsky company. Dornier's design, the P.14 was ready in 1935 and was the only of the three that could be ready in time to meet the requirements of the Dutch Navy. Before the year was over a detailed model was ready to be shown to the Dutch.
Very soon Dornier was able to make an offer, after which on August 6th 1936 the first contract was signed for the delivery of 6 flying boats to the Dutch Navy, getting the designation Do-24.
The Luftwaffe was also in need for a replacement for the old Wal flying boats in use with the Kustenfliegerstaffeln. The specifications that the RLM issued were almost on the same lines as those of the Dutch Navy and Dornier entered the P.14 project. Dornier now had competition of the Ha-138 design of the Hamburger Flugzeugbau (later Blohm und Voss), also a three engined flying boat.
It was decided to build four prototypes, the Do-24 V1 and Do-24 V2 for the RLM and the Do-24 V3 and Do-24 V4 for the Dutch. The last two were also the first of the Dutch order for six aircraft and were to build at Friedrichshafen as were the two RLM prototypes.
When Germany invaded The Netherlands on May 10th 1940 only 7 Do-24K’s were delivered by Aviolanda to The Dutch East Indies. 13 Do-24K-2’s were in various stages of building and the stocks were filled with parts for another 16 examples. There were enough Wright Cyclone engine for at least 11 Do-24’s. Still in May Oberingenieur Stellmann returned to Aviolanda with the RLM order to make the two most complete examples, the X-38 and X-39, airworthy. The interest came mainly from the German Seenotdienst that for a long time was eagerly awaiting such an aircraft like the Do-24 if not the Do-24 itself. The tactical units within the Luftwaffe had first choice concerning plane-choice and so the Seenotdienst had to make do with aging Heinkel He-59’s. Now they saw their chance clear to get their hands on the impounded Dutch Do-24’s.
http://www.dornier24.com/images/pictures/Do-24_p128.jpg
June 1940 Flugkapitan Karl Born, commander of Seenotflugkommando I Norderney, came to Aviolanda in Papendrecht with a few representatives of Dornier and factory testpilot Erich Gundermann. They came to check out the X-38. Born was thrilled he could get his hands on the do-24’s in the factory because this meant a vast modernisation of the Seenotdienst, Born even called the Do-24 the "wonder plane". As fast as they could the X-38 was made ready and was flown by pilots from the LZA (Luftzeugamt) to Travemunde. During this flight the X-38 still had the Dutch camouflage, but was equipped with German nationality markings and the registration D-AFBT. The gunturrets were removed because the pilots of the Seenotdienst were under the impression they were protected by the flag of the International Red Cross. Small changes were made so the Do-24 could be used in air-sea rescue. July 19th 1940 the former X-38, now completely painted white with red crosses on the fuselage, was delivered to Seenotkommando I (Seenotstaffel 4). Because the Seenotdienst was on paper a civilian organisation the Do-24 had to be equipped with with a civilian registration and because of reasons unknown the registration D-AFBT was cancelled and D-AEAV was applied.
In the same way as the X-38 the X-39 arrived at Norderney with the registration D-APDA. Both aircraft were equipped with American Wright Cyclone’s and were the pride of the Seenotdienst, now it was only time to wait for the first operational mission. Read all about that first mission here.
http://www.dornier24.com/images/pictures/Do-24_p251.jpg
September three more arrived at the LZA at Travemunde followed by four in October. The civilian registration and white painting had by that time long vanished because the English still tried to shoot the aircraft down and on too many occasions did with the loss of many lives, which also included English military personel.
At least 13 Do-24N-1’s were delivered to the Luftwaffe in this style. When the stock of Wright Cyclone’s had run dry the Do-24’s were equipped with BMW 132N radials delivering 685 hp and thus the Do-24T-1 was born.
http://www.dornier24.com/images/pictures/Do-24_p246.jpg
All information taken from www.dornier24.com (http://www.dornier24.com[/i])
The grandson of the founder Claude Dornier Iren Dornier still flys the Do 24 ATT on shows. The restored Do 24 ATT is equipped with modern instruments and engines (Pratt & Whitney Turboprop). This is the only still active plane.
http://www.bredow-web.de/ILA_2004/Traditionsflugzeuge/Dornier_Do-24/DO-24-1.JPG
http://www.bredow-web.de/ILA_2004/Traditionsflugzeuge/Dornier_Do-24/DO-24-Ansicht2.JPG