In spite of looking like something from a science-fiction film, the Do-31’s flight test were successful. Beginning in early 1967, all manner of maneuvers were undertaken: from its signature vertical takeoff and hovering, to conventional horizontal flight, and even flying backward.
According to the aviation magazine Hush-Kit, “Payload capability was 36 fully equipped troops, or ‘two or three’ Jeeps, or palleted freight, up to a maximum of 11,000 pounds, and a range of 1,100 miles was expected with maximum payload.” Maximum speed was approximately 710 Km/H (440 MPH).
The jet’s popularity culminated at the 1969 Paris Airshow, where it amazed the general public and caught the attention of several American manufacturers such as Convair; some of whom even saw potential for civilian use, but ultimately no deal was struck. Although the test aircraft had met its goals, the project was nonetheless abandoned in 1970. In the end it was just too expensive, too fuel thirsty, and too complex — requiring a whopping 10 engines, only two of which were actually used in forward flight.
A total of three Do-31s were built: one static testbed, and two flyable prototypes. The whereabouts of the non-flying airframe is unknown, but the two flying examples are both in German museums. One is at the Dornier Museum in Friedrichshafen, and the other can be found at the Flugwerft Schleissheim near Munich.
[Featured image by Ralf Manteufel via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | GFDL 1.2]
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