Dornier Do 28 Totally Explained

Everything about The Dornier Do 28 totally explained

The Dornier Do 28 Skyservant was a German twin-engined STOL-utility aircraft, manufactured by Dornier Flugzeugbau GmbH (later DASA Dornier, Fairchild-Dornier). It served with the Luftwaffe and Marineflieger and other air forces around the world in the communications and utility role.

Design and development

The Do 28 was developed from the single engined Do 27 at the end of the 1950s, the design shared the cantilever high wing layout and the lift augmentation devices of the Do 27, together with the rear fuselage which seated six passengers.
   The most defining feature of the new design was the unusual incorporation of two Lycoming engines, as well as the two main landing gear shock struts of the faired main landing gear attached to short pylons on either side of the forward fuselage.
   The internal space of the Do 28 was the same as the Do 27 and the company were given financial assistance from the German government to develop a larger STOL transport to carry up to 13 passengers. The type was designated the Do 28D and later named Skyservant. The Do 28D was a complete redesign and shared only the basic layout and wing construction of the earlier versions. The fuselage and engine nacelles were rectangular unlike the rounded Do 28A/B. The aim was to develop a simple and rugged aircraft for use under arduous conditions, which could be easily maintained. With a crew of two pilots, the cabin accommodated up to 12 passengers, freight could be loaded easily through large double doors and with the seats removed the cabin gave of unobstructed space. The first flight of a Do 28D took place on 23 February 1966. A further variant of the Skyservant was the Do 28D-2/OU (Oil Unit). Two aircraft were fitted with Radar and SLAR (Side-Looking Airborne Radar) to monitor oil pollution in the Baltic and North Seas. Painted in a white scheme they were operated by MFG 5 of the Marineflieger on behalf of the German Transport Ministry between 1984 and 1995. These aircraft are easily recognised by the fuselage mounted SLAR antenna and a radome under the cockpit. In 1991 both aircraft operated for several weeks in the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War under the control of the United Nations. Again these two aircraft were replaced by the Do 228 at the end of 1995. These Skyservants are preserved in the museum at Nordholz.
   Like the Do 27, the Dornier Do 28 possessed a high cruising speed, excellent low-speed handling characteristics, as well as very short takeoff and landing (STOL) performance. The Do-28 was readily accepted as a natural progression from its single-engine forebear. With many of the same STOL characteristics, most Do-28 production was destined for military customers, notably Germany, although a small number were in service for commercial operators as a rugged, low-cost utility transport. The design proved remarkably adaptable and was developed into a number of progressively improved variants, from the original D, through the D1 and D2 to the 128-2, introduced in 1980. Each variant introduced a number of detail changes that enhanced its already versatile performance capabilities.

Operational history

A total of 121 Dornier Do 28D-2s were built between 1971 and 1974 at Oberpfaffenhofen for the German Federal Armed Forces where they replaced ageing Percival Pembrokes,

Do 28A-1-S ť Floatplane converson of the Do 27A-1 by the Jobmaster Company of Seattle, Washington, USA.

;Do 28B-1 ť Do 28A with enlarged nose, additional fuel tanks, increased tailplane area and powered by Lycoming IO-540 fuel injected engines and three-bladed constant speed propellers, 60 built.

Do 28B-1-S ť Proposed floatplane conversion of the Do 28B-1 by the Jobmaster Company of Seattle, Washington, USA.

;Do 28B-2 ť Variant with turbocharged Lycoming TIO-540 engines, one built.

Do 28C ť Designation of a proposed eight seat version with two 530 shaft horsepower turboprops but this design wasn't pursued.

;Do 28D ť Redesigned aircraft with box fuselage, larger wing, new tail and two IGSO-540 engines, seven built.

Do 28D-1 ť Production version of the Do 28D, 54 built.

;Do 28D-2 ť Increased maximum takeoff weight, lengthened fuselage, 172 built.

Do 28D-2/OU ť Do 28D modified as a pollution patrol aircraft

;Do 28D-2T ť In 1980 one Luftwaffe Do 28D-2 aircraft was fitted with two Avco Lycoming TIGO-540 turbochared engines.

Do 28D-5X Turbo Skyservant ť Prototype version powered by Lycoming LTP-101-600 turboprops, one built. Also known as the TurboSky.

;Do 28D-6X Turbo Skyservant ť Prototype version powered by PT6A-110 turboprops, one built later redesignated Dornier 128-6.

Do 28E-TNT ť A Do 28D fitted with a high technology wing for trials, one built first flown in 1979.

;Do 128-2 ť Improved Do 28D

Do 128-6 ť Production version of the Turbo Skyservant, six built.

Operators

Military operators

Specifications (Do 28D-2)

Further Information

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