Germany's aerial giant

Air Classics, Sep 1999 by Thompson, Jim

CELEBRATING THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMAZING Do X FLYING BOAT

It is 12 July 1929: This date is a very special milestone not only for Dr. Claude Dornier but for the entire aviation industry. On precisely this day the giant flying boat, the Do X, took off from Altenrhein on Lake Constance for its maiden flight. This is reason enough for the Dornier GmbH to recall that historic date.

Today, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG is the majority shareholder of the Dornier company with its focal points of activities in the fields of satellite systems, telecommunications and defense systems.

Do X FILLS THE WORLD WITH AMAZEMENT

In the early 1920s, Claude Dornier realized that economic air transport was only possible with larger aircraft and more passengers. Experience gained in the construction of a series of earlier flying boats, such as the Libelle, Delphin and the well-known Wal, formed the basis for the first "widebody" aircraft -- with the official designation "Verkehrsflugschiff Do X." Building the Do X with its exceptional dimensions at the time required the construction of new fabrication halls. Altenrhein, on the Swiss shore of Lake Constance, was chosen since, after World War One, aircraft construction in Germany was still heavily restricted by the Treaty of Versailles. Having completed Europe's most advanced yard for flying boats at the time, manufacture of the Do X was launched in December 1927.

Approximately 240,000 labor hours later, on the morning of 12 July 1929, a flying boat of hitherto unknown dimensions was floating in front of the company plant. Twelve engines, mounted in tandem nacelles on the wing, were to provide the giant with the necessary power.

With the twelve engines roaring, taxi tests were started. After a short while, the pilot, Richard Wagner, increased the power, the flying boat picked up speed and took off from thewater-- the Do X was airborne. Claude Dornier stated, "This was one of the greatest moments of my life." An extensive trial program began. The flying boat had to prove its performance capability in all weathers on water and in the air. In October 1929, the Do X proved its reliability. It took off for a one-hour flight over Lake Constance with 169 passengers on board --sitting on wicker chairs. The world looked on in amazement. At the beginning of 1930, the air-- cooled Jupiter engines (with 525-horsepower each) of the Do X were replaced by the more powerful water-cooled Curtiss Conqueror engines (with 640-- horsepower each).

An essential feature of the Do X was its division of three separate decks - a first in aircraft manufacturing-- and the organization of the crew in a commander, pilot, flight engineer (with his own central engine compartment), navigator and radio operator. The upper deck accommodated the pilot compartment, navigation compartment, central engine compartment, and the radio operations center. The passenger compartments were arranged in the main deck. With luxury amenities, they offered space for approximately 66 passengers. The lower deck contained the fuel tanks and other stocks.

TRANSCONTINENTAL FLIGHTS

On 5 November 1930, after 140 takeoffs and landings, the Do X embarked from Altenrhein on its first major flight. During its flight over Europe, the flying boat attracted a lot of attention in Holland, England, France, Spain and Portugal. The onward flight from Lisbon over the Atlantic could not be performed on time as the Do X wing was heavily damaged by a fire. After several months of repair work, the Do X took off from Lisbon for its flight over the Atlantic on 31 January 1931.

The Do X flew along the African Coast as far as Bubaque and then crossed the Atlantic in direction of South America. Rio de Janeiro and New York were the most prominent landing places on its tour along the North and South American Atlantic coast. Thousands of people came to see the flying boat. Taking off in New York (19 May 1932) for the flight back home, the Do X crossed the Atlantic with stopovers in Newfoundland and the Azores, to alight on Muggelsee in Berlin. A voyage of more than 43,500 kilometers, including two transatlantic flights, had been concluded. A further flight over Germany rounded off the flight program.

While the first flying boat was built on behalf of Germany, two further aircraft would be delivered to Italy. On account of the worldwide economic crisis no further flying boats could then be built. The aviation museum at Lehrter Bahnhof in Berlin was the final destination of the Do X where it was destroyed during World War Two by a bombing attack.