- Dornier Delphin
-
Delphin 
Delphin III in 1928 Role Commercial flying boat Manufacturer Dornier Flugzeugwerke First flight 1920 The Dornier Delphin (en: Dolphin) was a 1920s German single-engine 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.
Development
The Delphin I was developed in 1920. It was an all-metal single-engine 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 138 kW (185 hp) 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. Dornier first tested the design concept and spontoons in place of wing tip floats with a small three seater named the Dragon Fly[1]
An improved version, the Delphin II first flew on 15 February 1924 and was powered by either a 186 kW (250 hp) BMW engine or a 194 kW (260 hp) 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 447 kW (600 hp) 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.
Variants
- Delphin I
- Four-passenger version with open cockpit powered by a 138 kW (185 hp) BMW IIIa inline engine
- Delphin II
- Five-passenger version powered by either a 186 kW (250 hp) BMW engine or a 194 kW (260 hp) Rolls-Royce Falcon III engine.
- Delphin III
- Ten-passenger version powered by 447 kW (600 hp) BMW VI engine
Specifications (Delphin III)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 10 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: 2,900 kg (6,393 lb)
- Gross weight: 3,900 kg (8,598 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × BMW VI inline piston engine, 447 kW (600 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 180 km/h (112 mph)
- Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,765 ft)
See also
- Related lists
References
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing
- ^ "The Dornier Dragon Fly Flying Boat" FLIGHT, October 20, 1921
Aircraft built by Dornier Flugzeugwerke Company designations
pre-1933RLM designations
1933-1945Do 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 29 • 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-1945Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airlines (defunct) · Airports · Civil authorities · Museums · Registration prefixes · Rotorcraft (manufacturers) · TimelineMilitary Accidents/incidents Records Categories:- German airliners 1920–1929
- Seaplanes and flying boats
- Dornier aircraft
- Propeller aircraft
- Single-engine aircraft
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