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The Dornier 228-212 is 19 seat twin-turboprop powered, STOL utility aircraft designed; engineered and built by Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH in
Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. Today, the Dornier 228 is produced by RUAG Aerospace Services GmbH in Oberpfaffenhofen as the Dornier 228NG.
The Dornier 228 is also license-built by HAL, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in India as the HAL Dornier Do-228. Development of the 228
started in the late 1970's. Dornier carried out extensive research into new technology wing design and converted a Do.28D-2 Skyservant into
its "TNT" prototype for the advanced "Tragflügels Neuer Technologie" programme. This Dornier Do.28E TNT prototype (D-IFNT c/n 4330) was fitted
with two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-110 turboprop engines and flown first on 14 June 1979. Dornier changed the engine and tested the new aircraft
with two Garrett AiResearch TPE-331-5 engines. Two Do.228 prototypes were built. The first prototype Do 228-100, initial designated Do28 E-1,
(D-IFNS c/n 4358) took off on its maiden flight on 28 March 1981. The second prototype Do 228-200, initial designated Do28 E-2, (D-ICDO c/n 4359)
flew on 9 May 1981. The Do.228 was fitted with the new TNT wing and built in the 15-passenger Do.228-100 and 19-passenger Do.228-200 versions.
The Do.228 fuselage incorporated sections of Do.28D structure but was, essentially, a completely new design. The turboprop engines are mounted
on is high wing and a retractable tricycle undercarriage is fitted. On 18 December 1981, the Dornier Do 228-100 received its German Type Certificate
as Do.28, later renamed in the TCDS as Dornier 228. On 7 September 1982, the Dornier 228-200 received its German Type Certificate. Certification from
both British and American aviation authorities followed on 17 April and 11 May 1984 respectively. The first customer delivery, to A/S Norving, took place
on 3 March 1982. In November 1983, Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) bought a production licence to manufacture the aircraft Kanpur, India, for the Asian market.
Over the years, Dornier offered the 228 in upgraded variants and fitted with optional equipment for performing various special missions. In 1996, it was
announced that all manufacturing operations would be transferred to India. In 1998, production of the Dornier 228 in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich came to
an end. In the period 1 June 2000 - 27 July 2003, the Type Certificate Holder was Fairchild Dornier GmbH, and since 28 July 2003, RUAG Aerospace Services GmbH,
Oberpfaffenhofen Airfield, is the Type Certificate Holder. In 2009, RUAG started building a Dornier 228 New Generation in Germany with the fuselage, wings and
tail unit manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Kanpur, India, and transported to Oberpfaffenhofen, where RUAG Aviation carries out aircraft
final assembly, customized equipment installation, product conformity inspection and aircraft delivery. It is basically the same aircraft with improved technologies
and performances, such as a new five blade propeller, glass cockpit and longer range. The first delivery was made in September 2010. Over 400 Do 228s in all variants
have been produced in Germany and India. RUAG decided to suspend production of the Dornier 228 NG after the completion of an initial batch of eight aircraft in 2013.
Production was restarted in 2015. On 30 September 2020, US firm General Atomics bought the Dornier 228 production line in Oberpfaffenhofen. The sale was completed in
February 2021. On 8 May 2023 the company announced the start of the series production of the new version of the Dornier 228, called the Do228 NXT (in which NXT stands
for Next Generation). It offers state-of-the-art technology (glass cockpit), improved performance and in compliance with current environmental regulations.
The ICAO
\Aircraft Type Designator for the Dornier 228-212 is D228. |
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