Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Dornier Komet

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Top speed
  
200 km/h

Length
  
12 m

Wingspan
  
20 m

Manufacturer
  
Dornier Komet Dornier Komet

Dornier komet ii cosada


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.

Contents

Dornier Komet wwwhistaviationcomDoKometIIwithdifferenten

Dornier komet bucaramanga 1924


Design and development

Dornier Komet Dornier Komet III

The first Komets (Do C III Komet I) utilised the wing, tail, and even upper fuselage of the early Delphin versions, 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 its peculiar position 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. 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.

Dornier Komet Friedrichshafen airport celebrates its centenary Dornier Museum

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 wing was raised above the fuselage on short struts. This version was exported to Denmark and Sweden, but was also produced under licence in Japan by Kawasaki.

Dornier Komet Dornier Komet I

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.

Variants

Do C III Komet I
First of the Komet series
Do Komet II
Do Komet III
Do B Merkur I
Do B Bal Merkur II
Do C
Military version of the Komet III
  • Do C-1: Twin-seat fighter.
  • Do C-2A: Recognition version.
  • Do C-3: Recognition version.
  • Do C-4: Do-10, development of C-1.
  • Do D
    A much revised floatplane torpedo bomber version for the Royal Yugoslav Air Force
    Do T
    An ambulance version

    Civil operators

     Colombia
  • SCADTA
  •  Germany
  • Deutsche Luft Hansa
  • Deutsche Luft-Reederei
  •   Switzerland
  • Ad Astra Aero
  •  Ukraine
  • Ukrvozdukhput
  •  Soviet Union
  • Deruluft
  • Dobrolyot
  • Military operators

     Chile
  • Chilean Air Force
  • Chilean Navy
  •  Colombia
  • Colombian Air Force
  •  Kingdom of Yugoslavia
  • Yugoslav Royal Navy
  • Specifications (Merkur II)

    Data from European Transport Aircraft since 1910

    General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 8 passengers
  • Length: 12.5 m (41 ft 0 in)
  • Wingspan: 19.6 m (64 ft 4 in)
  • Height: 3.56 m (11 ft 8 in)
  • Wing area: 62.0 m2 (667 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 2,100 kg (4,630 lb)
  • Gross weight: 3,600 kg (7,937 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × BMW VI water-cooled V-12 engine, 450 kW (600 hp)
  • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 200 km/h (124 mph; 108 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 180 km/h (112 mph; 97 kn)
  • Range: 750 km; 405 nmi (466 mi)
  • Service ceiling: 5,200 m (17,100 ft)
  • References

    Dornier Komet Wikipedia