Dornier DO31 VTOL jet transport project documentary
62,653
Published 2020-04-25
The development of the Do 31 was motivated principally by heavy interest expressed by the German Air Force in the acquisition of short take-off and vertical landing aircraft (STOVL)-capable aircraft. Such ambitions received a further boost from the issuing of NATO specification NBMR-4, which called for a VTOL-capable tactical support aircraft that would be operated in conjunction with the EWR VJ 101, a West German VTOL strike aircraft designed under the NATO contract of BMR-3.
A total of three aircraft, two flight-capable and one static airframe, were constructed and used for testing. On 10 February 1967, the Do 31 performed its maiden flight; the first hovering flight of the type took place during July 1967.
All Comments (21)
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My Grandfather is the Famous "Drury Wood". He was a DO-31 Test Pilot and is pictured at 2:45 (he is the one smoking) he just passed away a 3 years ago. Rest In Peace Grandpa!
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Wow 1950 was so futuristic 😳
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Wow! I had never heard of this amazing aircraft before, it's beautiful, and the sound it creates when landing, OMG
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The DO-31 was part of a VSTOL German Air Force. The VJ-101 was to be a successor to the F-16; the VJ-191 was to replace the FIAT G-91. The programs ended when it became clear that VSOL aircraft are technically possible, but maintaining such a fleet in widely dispersed areas wouldn't work. At the Hannover Air Show - probably in 1968, - the DO-31 gave a flight demonstration. The test pilot slow rolled the DO-31 as he flew over the runway - successfully. I was there and saw this unbelievable slow roll demonstration with the only flying D)-31 that was built. Our hearts were in our mouths....
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The man in high castle!
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Looks absolutely like a WWII super-project that was realized.
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FS2020 brought me here. Unbelievable they actually managed to fly that thing.
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It was a brilliant solution for a problem that was largely non-existent. Still its one of those things which would have made the world more interesting had it gone forward. It might have found a good role in regional business travel or disaster response in undeveloped areas.
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What a cool plane. I can see some of this plane in the Harrier.
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Makes more sense than the Osprey.
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You could paint it gold and red and it wouldn’t look out of place in the Flash Gordon movie! 😁
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Wunderbar! Vielen Dank.
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I like the look of this airplane.
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Fantastic.
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Wonderful plane !
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Germany was clearly ahead of its time!
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Wunderbar! Never seen one, what an impressive German aircraft. Maint. would have been a night mare. 2 main engines, and the wing pod engines to look after. But it worked, and the engeneering is impressive...
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Thunderbirds are GO!
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Something like this, but without the VTOL capabilities, would be the ideal plane for me.
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Wow, I have never seen or heard of that kind of aircraft or that such an aircraft of that kind was in developed other than the hawker hurricane I learn something about aviation development every day thank to you
