Dornier Delphin

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Delphin
Type	Commercial flying-boat
Manufacturer	Dornier Flugzeugwerke
Maiden flight	1920

The Dornier Delphin (en: Dolphin) was a 1920s German single-engined commercial flying boat built by Dornier Flugzeugwerke. As well as commercial users single examples were acquired by the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy for evaluation.

[edit] Development

The Delphin I was developed in 1920. It was an all-metal single-engined high-wing monoplane flying boat. It had an enclosed cabin for four-passengers with the wing mounted above and the nacelle-mounted engine above that. It was powered by a 185hp (138kW) BMW IIIa inline engine. The pilot had an open cockpit on the upper surface of the hull behind the engine which gave him a limited view forward. It first flew on the 24 November 1920

An improved version, the Delphin II first flew on 15 February 1924 and was powered by either a 250 hp (186 kW) BMW engine or a 260 hp (194 kW) Rolls-Royce Falcon III engine. The enclosed cabin now had room for two crew and five passengers.

Following the success of the Delphin II a larger version the Delphin III was developed from 1927. It was powered by a 600 hp (447 kW) BMW VI engine and had a separate flight deck for the two-man crew and a cabin for 10 passengers.

A Delphin I was acquired by the United States Navy and a Delphin III by the Royal Navy both of whom were interested in evaluating the metal construction.

[edit] Variants

Delphin I

Four-passenger version with open cockpit powered by a 185 hp (138 kW) BMW IIIa inline engine

Delphin II

Five-passenger version powered by either a 250 hp (186 kW) BMW engine or a 260 hp (194 kW) Rolls-Royce Falcon III engine.

Delphin III

Ten-passenger version powered by 600 hp (447 kW) BMW VI engine

[edit] Specifications (Delphin III)

General characteristics

• Crew: Two
• Capacity: Ten passengers
• Length: 14.35 m (47 ft 1 in)
• Wingspan: 19.60 m (64 ft 3¾ in)
• Height: 4.05 m (13 ft 3½ in)
• Wing area: 62 m² (667.38 ft²)
• Empty weight: 2900 kg (6393 lb)
• Gross weight: 3900 kg (8598 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × BMW VI inline piston engine, 447 kW (600 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 180 km/h (112 mph)
• Service ceiling: 4500 m (14,765 ft)

[edit] References

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing

[edit] See also

v • d • e Aircraft built by Dornier Flugzeugwerke By Project Number Company designations pre-1933: Do A • Do B • Do C • Do D • Do E • Do F • Do G • Do H • Do J • Do K • Do L • Do N • Do O • Do P • Do Q • Do R • Do S • Do T • Do U • Do V • Do X • Do Y Delphin • Komet • Libelle • Merkur • Spatz • Wal RLM designations 1933-1945: Do 10 • Do 11 • Do 12 • Do 13 • Do 14 • Do 15 • Do 16 • Do 17 • Do 18 • Do 19 • Do 20 • Do 22 • Do 23 • Do 24 • Do 25 • Do 26 • Do 212 • Do 214 • Do 215 • Do 216 • Do 217 • Do 317 • Do 318 • Do 335 • Do 417 • Do 435 • Do 635 P.59 • P.85 • P.174 • P.184 • P.192 • P.231 • P.232 • P.238 • P.247 • P.252 • P.254 • P.256 • P.273 • P.1075 Company designations post-1945: Do 24 • Do 25 • Do 27 • Do 28 • Do 29 • Do 31 • Do 32 • Do 34 • Do 128 • Do 132 • Do 228 • Do 231 • 328 • 428 • 528 • 728JET • 928JET Projekt 621 Collaborative ventures Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet

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