Dornier Delphin

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The Dornier Delphin (en: Dolphin) was a 1920s German single-engine commercial flying boat built by Dornier Flugzeugwerke.

As well as commercial users single examples were acquired by the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy for evaluation.

Development

The Delphin I was developed in 1920.

It was an all-metal single-engine high-wing monoplane flying boat.

It had an enclosed cabin for four-passengers with the wing mounted above and the nacelle-mounted engine above that.

It was powered by a 138 kW (185 hp) BMW IIIa inline engine.

The pilot had an open cockpit on the upper surface of the hull behind the engine which gave him a limited view forward. It first flew on the 24 November 1920.

Dornier first tested the design concept and spontoons in place of wing tip floats with a small three seater named the Dragon Fly

An improved version, the Delphin II first flew on 15 February 1924 and was powered by either a 186 kW (250 hp) BMW engine or a 194 kW (260 hp) Rolls-Royce Falcon III engine.

The enclosed cabin now had room for two crew and five passengers.

Following the success of the Delphin II a larger version the Delphin III was developed from 1927.

It was powered by a 447 kW (600 hp) BMW VI engine and had a separate flight deck for the two-man crew and a cabin for 10 passengers.


A Delphin I was acquired by the United States Navy and a Delphin III by the Royal Navy both of whom were interested in evaluating the metal construction.

Variants

Delphin I


Four-passenger version with open cockpit powered by a 138 kW (185 hp) BMW IIIa inline engine


Delphin II


Five-passenger version powered by either a 186 kW (250 hp) BMW engine or a 194 kW (260 hp) Rolls-Royce Falcon III engine.


Delphin III


Ten-passenger version powered by 447 kW (600 hp) BMW VI engine

Specifications (Delphin III)

General characteristics


Crew: 2

Capacity: 10 passengers

Length: 14.35 m (47 ft 1 in)

Wingspan: 19.60 m (64 ft 3¾ in)

Height: 4.05 m (13 ft 3½ in)

Wing area: 62 m2 (667.38 ft2)

Empty weight: 2,900 kg (6,393 lb)

Gross weight: 3,900 kg (8,598 lb)

Powerplant: 1 × BMW VI inline piston engine, 447 kW (600 hp)

Performance


Maximum speed: 180 km/h (112 mph)

Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,765 ft)