Do-24ATT on World Tour

Thanks Kenneth, i couldn’t remember how that Seastar looked back then. Good to know it’s alive as well.

Originally posted by duvec
My (dim) recollection of this aircraft is that the wing is modern based on Dornier’s 227 Turbo prop commuter aircraft. The fuselage and tail group is an ex Spanish airforce Do24. Dornier was still family owned and they had intended to build a modern utility amphibian. My recollection is that this project led to the bankruptcy of the company. The new Fairchild Dornier rose from the ashes and then fell over, or should that be caught fire again, and collapsed a couple of years ago whilst trying to launch the Fairchild-Dornier 728.

Chris

Your recollection of this seem to ring a bell with me too, I vaguely remember seeing something in one of the aviation magazines about it a few years ago though which mag it was has slipped my mind

Originally posted by Stieglitz
I think it is all about the money. It is much cheaper to operate a aircraft with turbo-prop if you compair it to a BMW radial. It is intended to be used in a regular passenger line. So the engines have to be reliable and easy to maintain. I think it is sad to see this modern ‘junk’ attached to such a nice plane. 🙁

J.V.

Unfortunately it’s all to do with safety and reliability as you say. If you intend to run regular flights to anything like a timetable these are very important factors.

No,it’s not; the Seastar is a smaller amphibian with two engines in a tandem push-pull arrangement (looks like a small Dornier Wal) – and is incidentally also scheduled to be at the Berlin Air Show in May.

So the Do-24ATT is actually the previous Dornier SeaStar? That one has visited a lot of airshows around 1990, if my memory isn’t failing me.

So there are a few of these lovely things surviving then?

Dornier retained another one which for many years was mounted on a plinth outside the Dornier works in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich, Fortunately, it has now been transferred to the Deutsches Museum in Oberschleissheim where it has taken its turn in the restoration queue (they’re busy restoring a CASA 2.111 at the moment). It will then take the place in the museum vacated by the Do-24ATT, which was displayed there from 1992-2003.

I intend to go to Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance to watch it land there on next Saturday and will post my pics here.

Does anyone know where in London they intend to moor the aircraft?Will it be up in the old London dock by Tower Bridge? IIRC, the Sunderland was moored up there on onw or two occasions in the 80’s.

Originally posted by GDL
Much like the Hispano powered He-111s I guess. 🙂

Not a bad site actually, the http://www.warbirdalley.com 🙂

Actually unlike the He111’s/JU52’s/Me109’s these were built in Germany I think around 1938/39 and were not licence built. They served until the early 70’s I think.

Do24 HD.5-2 at the magnificent Museo del Aire at Cuatro Vientos,Madrid.Taken earlier this month,April 2004

Thanks JDK. Yes, she looks lovely doesnt she! 😎 Your advice is very convincing. It looks like I might have to take a look at this museum.

J.V.

This is my most recent Do24 pic, and the machine most like a wartime one – at the Dutch Military Aviation Museum, at Soesterberg. It’s a great museum, often overlooked.

This a/c was the one at the RAF Museum, until ‘loaned’ to the Dutch. Can’t see it coming back to the UK though, with the work done to it, and quite right too!

Cheers

Originally posted by JDK
I seem to recall that it’s a Spanish airframe (most of the survivors are).

Much like the Hispano powered He-111s I guess. 🙂

Not a bad site actually, the http://www.warbirdalley.com 🙂

Hi Dave.

Survivors – a few (No details on the top of my head… More later.)
Fliers – that’s it.
Luftwaffe Colours – Don’t think so. Dutch (the people who wanted it – the Luftwaffe didn’t want it originally) and Spanish. None in RAAF colours that I recall
Film work. Yes, a Dutch TV documentary – don’t all rush at once!

Cheers

More piccies? Yes please. 🙂

So there are a few of these lovely things surviving then? Do any more fly? Have any been put into Luftwaffe colours? Have any done film work at all?

Cheers
Dave

I seem to recall that it’s a Spanish airframe (most of the survivors are).

Do we want some pics of other Do24s? There’s some great stuff out there including a fascinating book on the type with loads of info and the story of the Dutch East Indies machines.

(Part of the fascination is that it’s in Dutch…)

Yeah, thanks Glenn.

Does anyone know when the original airframe was built though? Is it from during the war? Or later?

Cheers
Dave

Call me Glenn. 🙂 And your are welcome.

Thanks for the info GDL (Glenn;)).

Originally posted by Dave Homewood
And why does that airline have it? Isit still flying a scheduled route? Or perhaps charters?

One of Dornier’s family is the current Chief Exec of the airline. Not sure how they will, or do use it, but I suspect either local coastal runs, or charters in and around the Phillipines.

I think the new engines are indeed P&W 1,125hp PT-6As. The original engines were the 1,000hp Wright R-1820-G102 for the Dutch service models, and the 1,000hp BMW-Bramo 323-R2 Fafnir for the German built service models.

Originally posted by mike currill
So they put new wings and engines on it eh?

I think it is all about the money. It is much cheaper to operate a aircraft with turbo-prop if you compair it to a BMW radial. It is intended to be used in a regular passenger line. So the engines have to be reliable and easy to maintain. I think it is sad to see this modern ‘junk’ attached to such a nice plane. 🙁

J.V.