Dornier Komet

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Komet, Merkur, and related
Dornier Komet III 360 PS Rolls-Royce Motor (Ans 05338-01-261-AL-FL).jpg
Komet III
RoleAirliner
Manufacturer Dornier Flugzeugwerke
First flight1921
Developed from Dornier Delphin
Variants Dornier Do 10

The Dornier Komet ("Comet"), Merkur ("Mercury"), Do C, Do D, and Do T were a family of aircraft manufactured in Germany during the 1920s, originally as small airliners, but which saw military use as well. The earliest aircraft in the series were basically landplane versions of the Delphin flying boat, and although the Delphin and Komet/Merkur series diverged from each other, design changes and refinements from one family were often incorporated into the other. All variants were braced high-winged single-engine monoplanes with conventional landing gear.

Contents

Design and development

Dornier Komet Bundesarchiv Bild 102-00715, Friedrichshafen, Zeppelin-Luftschiffhalle.jpg
Dornier Komet
Dornier Komet II (2), 1922 Dornier Komet 2, op Vliegveld Waalhaven, Rotterdam, 1922.jpg
Dornier Komet II (2), 1922
A version of the Dornier Komet at Dubendorf airfield Dornier Do C III Komet demonstrator Dubendorf - LBS SR02-10055.tif
A version of the Dornier Komet at Dübendorf airfield

The first Komets (Do C III Komet I) utilised the same rectangular plan, 17 m (55 ft 9 in) span wing, tail, and even upper fuselage, as well as the 138 kW (185 hp) BMW IIIa engine of the Delphin I, but replaced the lower fuselage and sponsons with a simple sheet-metal bottom that incorporated fixed tailskid undercarriage. The engine installation was also relocated from above the Delphin's nose to a conventional location in the Komet's fuselage nose. Accommodation was provided for a single pilot and four passengers. [1] [2] An improved version, the Do Komet II, was first flown on 9 October 1922 and was widely exported to countries including Colombia, Spain, Switzerland, and the Soviet Union.

The Do Komet III of 1924 was a practically all-new design that shared many elements with the Delphin III. The cabin was expanded to seat another two passengers and the larger wing, with a span of 19.6 m (64 ft 4 in), was raised above the fuselage on short struts. Power was greatly increased from the Komet I, with a 340 kW (450 hp) Napier Lion engine. [3] This version was exported to Denmark and Sweden, but was also produced under licence in Japan by Kawasaki.

In 1925, the Komet III was replaced in production by the Do B Merkur I, which featured a revised fin and longer-span wings. When fitted with the BMW VI engine, it became known as the Do B Bal Merkur II, as did indeed any Komets thus re-engined. The type was widely used by Deutsche Luft Hansa, which had some 30 Merkurs operating at one time, and was also exported to Brazil, China, Colombia, Japan, and Switzerland.

The Do C and Do D were follow-on military designs, the former a trainer exported to Chile and Colombia, the latter a floatplane torpedo-bomber built for the Yugoslav Royal Navy. The designation Do T was used for a landplane ambulance version.

A replica Dornier Merkur was made for the Dorner Museum in the early 2000s.


Variants

Dornier Do D seaplane version, from L'Aerophile December,1927 Dornier Do D L'Aerophile December,1927.jpg
Dornier Do D seaplane version, from L'Aérophile December,1927
Dornier Merkur ambulance version Dornier Merkur ambulance Le Document aeronautique June,1928.jpg
Dornier Merkur ambulance version
First of the Komet series
Do Komet II
Do Komet III
larger, more powerful four-six passenger version. [3]
Do B Merkur I
Do B Bal Merkur II
Do C
Military version of the Komet III
Do D
A much revised floatplane torpedo bomber version for the Royal Yugoslav Air Force
Do T
An ambulance version

Operators

Civil operators

Dornier B-Bal "Merkur" of Ad Astra Aero S.-A. Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1985-0530-501, Berlin, Landung von Walter Mittelholzer.jpg
Dornier B-Bal "Merkur" of Ad Astra Aero S.-A.
Dornier Merkur (CH 142) operated by Ad Astra Aero (1927) Ad Astra Aero - Dornier Merkur (CH142) 1927.jpg
Dornier Merkur (CH 142) operated by Ad Astra Aero (1927)
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union

Military operators

Flag of Chile.svg  Chile
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia
Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Kingdom of Yugoslavia


Specifications (Merkur II)

Dornier Merkur 3-view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No.30 Dornier Merkur 3-view NACA Aircraft Circular No.30.jpg
Dornier Merkur 3-view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No.30
Dornier Merkur replica on display Dornier Merkur 01 Dornier Museum 2009-09-27.jpg
Dornier Merkur replica on display
Dornier Merkur (side view) 50 Years Dornier STOL, Friedrichshafen (1X7A4161-HDR).jpg
Dornier Merkur (side view)
Front view Dornier Merkur front Dornier Museum 2009-09-27.jpg
Front view
Interior view of the Merkur on display at the Dornier Museum Dornier-Museum Friedrichshafen 2018 019.jpg
Interior view of the Merkur on display at the Dornier Museum

Data from European Transport Aircraft since 1910 [8]

General characteristics

Performance

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References

  1. "Les avions Dornier". Les Ailes (8): 2. 11 August 1921.
  2. "A New German All-Metal Machine". Flight. XIII (13): 223–224. 31 March 1921.
  3. 1 2 Serryer, J (19 February 1925). "L'Avion Dornier "Komet" III". Les Ailes (192): 2.
  4. 1 2 3 Hooks Aeroplane June 2016, p. 52.
  5. 1 2 Hooks Aeroplane June 2016, p. 51.
  6. Hooks Aeroplane June 2016, pp. 52–53.
  7. Hooks Aeroplane June 2016, pp. 51–52.
  8. Stroud 1966, p. 246.
  9. Donald 1995, p. 347.
  10. Stroud Aeroplane Monthly January 1984, p. 39.

Bibliography

Further reading