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The three-engined Dornier Do 24ATT (former designation Do 24 TT) is a experimental amphibian
testbed based on the Dornier Do-24 and developed to test to test the high seas
capability of an amphibious, economical aircraft. In fact, this
amphibian aircraft is a rebuild from the 1944-built former Spanish
Do-24T-3 flying boat (c/n 5345, fuselage only). In June 1944, Spain
acquired twelve Dornier Do 24T-3s from Germany, including Do-24T-3 c/n
5345. These twelve machines were used exclusively to equip an air-sea squadron based at Pollensa for air / sea rescue of any
crews, Allied or Axis, forces down in the Mediterranean. Dornier Do-24T-3 c/n 5345 entered service in Spain as 65-12 "Virgen del Rosario".
In 1946, registration of the Dornier Do-24T-3 changed to HR.5-12 (51-12). In 1947, the Spanish S.A.R. organisation was set up,
and the elderly Do-24T-3s, which had been retired due to lack of spares,
were put back into active service. On 22 December 1953, with the
introduction of the modern Grumman SA-16A Albatros, that joined the
Do-24T-3s in service, the registration of the flying boat was changed to
DO-24T3-12. On 1 April 1965, the registration of the Dornier changed to
HD.5-4 (56-4). In 1970, the Dornier Do-24T-3 was withdrawn from service
with the 804a Escuadrilla de Salvamento (804 Rescue Squadron) at Puerto
Pollensa, Majorca, and in 1971 the aircraft was bought by Dornier for
use as testbed for a tri-turboprop amphibian project, and flown to
Friedrichshafen. In 1973, Dornier annouced details about the new plane,
designated Do-24/72, primarily intended for search and rescue operations
in rough seas, but cargo and passenger versions are possible. The
company hoped to sell 150 to 200 of the craft at a price of
approximately $3 million a piece. In 1974, the project has been
restarted with Spanish (C.A.S.A.) participation in the development and
the airplane would be produced as a joint venture between Dornier and Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA).
The Spanish Defense Ministry would like to buy 30 of the craft,
and the maiden flight was tentatively scheduled for 1975. However,
despite all efforts, the Do 24/72 project never got of the ground. But
in 1979, Dornier finally started the rebuild of the airframe and the
aircraft was equipped with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45 turboprop
engines; newly developed trapeze-shaped wings as used by the Dornier
Do-228, as well as a retractable landing gear landing gear, using the Do 31 main landing gear, which makes
it an amphibian technology bearer (Amphibischer Technologie Träger ATT).
In March 1983, permit to fly was issued as D-CATD and the Do-24ATT flew
first on 25 April 1983. The aircraft flew missions like high sea trials up to
sea state 4 in 1984. As the Luftfahrtbundesambt (German Federal Aviation Authority)
had approved a flight time of only 150 flight hours because of the age of the fuselage,
Dornier had to ground the aircraft after that. The aircraft went to the Deutschen Museum
in Schleißheim and registration D-CATD was cancelled in 1994. After
years on display in the museum, Iren Dornier, grandson of Claude
Dornier, purchased the aircraft and the aircraft was transported by road
and boat to the Philippines in 2003.
In the Philippines the aircraft was retrofitted and restored for the second time in good working
condition. It also underwent a series of rigorous test flights both on land and water and
received its airworthiness from the Philippine Aviation Authority
and was registered RP-C2403 with South East Asian Airlines (SEAIR) in
2004. In April 2004, Do-24ATT RP-C2403 took off from Manila on a 8,5 months worldtrip in support of UNICEF.
Captain Dornier and his crew have flown the seaplane to more than 30
countries around the world, including Cambodia, Thailand, India, the
United Arab Emirates, Germany, France, Iceland, Canada, and the United
States. Since early 2006, the Do 24ATT was touring Europe and was stationed during that time the former Dornier factory
airfield in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich. After registration RP-C2403 was cancelled, the aircraft was grounded and stored
at Oberpfaffenhofen. On 20 October 2011, permit to fly as D-CIDO was issued and the Do-24ATT
flew first as D-CIDO on 18 November 2011. Today, the Dornier Do-24ATT
has its home at the Dornier Museum at Friedrichshafen Airport. |
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The history of the Dornier Do-24 goes back to 1934. In that year, the
Dutch government was looking for a replacement of the outdated,
twin-engined Dornier Do-J 'Wal' flying-boats of the 'twenties' in
service with the MLD - Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service for use in
Dutch East Indies. In 1934, Fokker, Sikorsky and Dornier came with a
design for a new flying boat suitable for use in the Dutch East Indies,
the Indonesian archipelago. In 1935, this led to a further coordonation
with Dr. Clause Dornier as the designs of Sikorsky and Fokker dropped
out for various reasons. The result was the Dornier Do-24 and two
prototypes were ordered. Dornier started with the construction of
the prototypes Do-24V1 and Do-24V2, powered by three Junkers Jumo 205
engines. As in 1936, the Dutch Government wanted the Wright R-1820-F52
Cyclone radial engine for the flying boat, first the prototype Do-24V3,
powered by three Wright Cyclone R-1820-F52 radial engines was completed.
The maiden flight of the first Do-24, was done by the Do-24V3, on 3 July
1937. The Do-24V1 did not fly until 10 January 1938, this aircraft being
powered by three 600 h.p. Junkers Jumo 205C diesel engines. Sea trials
followed and within months the Do-24 went into production. At the end of
1937, the first Dornier Do-24, the Do-24V3 D-ADLP was delivered to the
Dutch Navy and registered X-1. The following aircraft was prototype
Do-24V4 that got serial X-2. even aircraft were known as Do-24K-1 and
built by Aero-Metall, Friedrichshafen. The Dutch Navy initially took
delivery of 36 units of the equipment after which a new model, the Do
24T, with improved 1,000HP Bramo engines went into production. The Dornier Do-24 remained in service into the 1970s with
the Spanish sea rescue wing. Over the years, about 280 Dornier Do-24s
were built by Dornier and Aero-Metall, AG and under license by Aviolanda
in Papendrecht, the Netherlands (under supervision of Weser Flugzeugbau
in Einswarden, Germany) and Potez-C.A.M.S. (SNCA du Nord) in
Sartouville, France. Next to the MLD - Royal Netherlands Naval, the
Dornier Do-24 served as a sea rescue and transport aircraft with the Luftwaffe; French Navy; Royal Australian Air Force;
Spanish Air Force; Swedish Air Force and the Royal Norwegian Air Force. |
Luchtvaart déjà vu
