If dreams could fly

Dornier has secured his place among the stars of aviation history for all time.
From the Zeppelin airship to the RS I, the world’s first metal flying boat. From the twelve-engine Do X flying boat – the world’s largest passenger craft at the time – and the Do 31 vertical take-off craft to unmanned rotor platforms. The impressive fleet of aircraft that was created over the decades under the Dornier name has not only given many people the chance to fly but also enabled enormous scientific progress.

The exhibition traces Dornier’s exploration of the skies with striking displays such as a Dornier Do 31, a Do 29, a Do 228, a Do 27, a Fiat G 91, a Br 1150 Breguet Atlantic, the Merkur and an Alphajet, some of which are still airworthy. These aircraft can be observed and admired up close in the hangar.

The Dornier Merkur

The first aircraft to set off on a scheduled flight for Deutsche Luft Hansa is the Dornier Merkur. Built in 1925 as a single-engined strut braced monoplane with high set wings, it sets seven world records by June of 1926 already. A brilliant technical and commercial success, the Merkur is used in large number by Luft Hansa. It also flies for Japanese and South American airlines, and is built under various international license agreements.

The special model known as »Switzerland« becomes famous. Walter Mittelholzer, a Swiss-born explorer of Africa, lands it in Cape Town on 20 February 1927 following a flight of 20,000 kilometres and 97 hours.
An original reproduction of the Merkur has been constructed for the Museum’s permanent exhibition.
Lufthansa Technik AG has agreed to paint it.
The resulting craft will be available for viewing at the Dornier Museum on 24 July 2009.

The Do 31

The first and unique jet transport aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing makes its first flight on 10 February 1967. A completely new control system is needed and special software and hardware are developed in preparation for the design, development, planning, production, testing and authorisation of this new type of aircraft.

A »systems approach« to applied technology – a central focus at Dornier – is now seen as having originated in large part from work done at this time.

The Do 31 sets a total of five world records.