The Dornier Komet (Comet), Merkur (Mercury), Do C, Do D, and Do T were a family of aircraft manufactured in Germany during the 1920s, originally as small airliners, but which saw military use as well. The earliest aircraft in the series were basically landplane versions of the Delphinflying boat, and although the Delphin and Komet/Merkur series diverged from each other, design changes and refinements from one family were often incorporated into the other. All variants were braced high-winged single-engine monoplanes with conventional landing gear.
Dornier KometDornier Komet II (2), 1922A version of the Dornier Komet at Dübendorf airfield
The first Komets (Do C III Komet I) utilised the same rectangular plan, 17 m (55 ft 9 in) span wing, tail, and even upper fuselage, as well as the 138 kW (185 hp) BMW IIIa engine of the Delphin I, but replaced the lower fuselage and sponsons with a simple sheet-metal bottom that incorporated fixed tailskid undercarriage. The engine installation was also relocated from above the Delphin's nose to a conventional location in the Komet's fuselage nose. Accommodation was provided for a single pilot and four passengers.[1][2] An improved version, the Do Komet II, was first flown on 9 October 1922 and was widely exported to countries including Colombia, Spain, Switzerland, and the Soviet Union.
The Do Komet III of 1924 was a practically all-new design that shared many elements with the Delphin III. The cabin was expanded to seat another two passengers and the larger wing, with a span of 19.6 m (64 ft 4 in), was raised above the fuselage on short struts. Power was greatly increased from the Komet I, with a 340 kW (450 hp) Napier Lion engine.[3] This version was exported to Denmark and Sweden, but was also produced under licence in Japan by Kawasaki.
In 1925, the Komet III was replaced in production by the Do B Merkur I, which featured a revised fin and longer-span wings. When fitted with the BMW VI engine, it became known as the Do B Bal Merkur II, as did indeed any Komets thus re-engined. The type was widely used by Deutsche Luft Hansa, which had some 30 Merkurs operating at one time, and was also exported to Brazil, China, Colombia, Japan, and Switzerland.
The Do C and Do D were follow-on military designs, the former a trainer exported to Chile and Colombia, the latter a floatplane torpedo-bomber built for the Yugoslav Royal Navy. The designation Do T was used for a landplane ambulance version.
A replica Dornier Merkur was made for the Dorner Museum in the early 2000s.
Variantsedit
Dornier Do D seaplane version, from L'Aérophile December,1927Dornier Merkur ambulance version
First of the Komet series
Do Komet II
Do Komet III
larger, more powerful four-six passenger version.[3]
Dornier Merkur 3-view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No.30Dornier Merkur replica on displayDornier Merkur (side view)Front viewInterior view of the Merkur on display at the Dornier Museum
Data from European Transport Aircraft since 1910[8]
Cooksley, Peter (September–October 1996). "Celestial Coaches: Dornier's Record Breaking Komet and Merkur". Air Enthusiast (65): 20–24. ISSN 0143-5450.
Donald, David, ed. (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Leicester, UK: Blitz Editions. ISBN1-85605-375-X.
Hooks, Mike (June 2016). "Dornier Rising". Aeroplane. Vol. 44, no. 5. pp. 48–53. ISSN 0143-7240.
Isaic, Vladimir (March–April 1999). "Yugoslav Naval Strike: Dornier's Merkur Seaplane in the Military Role". Air Enthusiast (80): 72–75. ISSN 0143-5450.
Ledet, Michel (April 1993). "L'aéronautique naval yugoslave des années 20 à Avril 1941" [Yugoslav Naval Aviation from the Twenties to April 1941]. Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire (in French) (2): 2–12. ISSN 1243-8650.
Nikolic, Djordie & Ognjevic, Akeksandar M. (2021). Dornier: The Yugoslav Saga 1926-2007. Lublin, Poland: Kagero Publishing. ISBN978-83-66673-61-8.
Stroud, John (1966). European Transport Aircraft since 1910. London: Putnam.
Stroud, John (January 1984). "Wings of Peace—Part 4: Dornier Komet and Merkur". Aeroplane Monthly. Vol. 12, no. 1. pp. 34–39. ISSN 0143-7240.
Tassell, Roy (May–June 1999). "Round-Out". Air Enthusiast (81): 78. ISSN 0143-5450.
Zuerl, Walter (1941). Deutsche Flugzeug Konstrukteure. München, Germany: Curt Pechstein Verlag.
Further readingedit
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 327.
World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 892 Sheet 26.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dornier Do T Komet.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dornier Do B Merkur.
German aircraft between 1919 and 1945 30 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
April 06, 2024
dornier, komet, comet, merkur, mercury, were, family, aircraft, manufactured, germany, during, 1920s, originally, small, airliners, which, military, well, earliest, aircraft, series, were, basically, landplane, versions, delphin, flying, boat, although, delphi. The Dornier Komet Comet Merkur Mercury Do C Do D and Do T were a family of aircraft manufactured in Germany during the 1920s originally as small airliners but which saw military use as well The earliest aircraft in the series were basically landplane versions of the Delphin flying boat and although the Delphin and Komet Merkur series diverged from each other design changes and refinements from one family were often incorporated into the other All variants were braced high winged single engine monoplanes with conventional landing gear Komet Merkur and relatedKomet IIIRole AirlinerManufacturer Dornier FlugzeugwerkeFirst flight 1921Developed from Dornier DelphinVariants Dornier Do 10 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Variants 3 Operators 3 1 Civil operators 3 2 Military operators 4 Specifications Merkur II 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 Further reading 8 External linksDesign and development edit nbsp Dornier Komet nbsp Dornier Komet II 2 1922 nbsp A version of the Dornier Komet at Dubendorf airfieldThe first Komets Do C III Komet I utilised the same rectangular plan 17 m 55 ft 9 in span wing tail and even upper fuselage as well as the 138 kW 185 hp BMW IIIa engine of the Delphin I but replaced the lower fuselage and sponsons with a simple sheet metal bottom that incorporated fixed tailskid undercarriage The engine installation was also relocated from above the Delphin s nose to a conventional location in the Komet s fuselage nose Accommodation was provided for a single pilot and four passengers 1 2 An improved version the Do Komet II was first flown on 9 October 1922 and was widely exported to countries including Colombia Spain Switzerland and the Soviet Union The Do Komet III of 1924 was a practically all new design that shared many elements with the Delphin III The cabin was expanded to seat another two passengers and the larger wing with a span of 19 6 m 64 ft 4 in was raised above the fuselage on short struts Power was greatly increased from the Komet I with a 340 kW 450 hp Napier Lion engine 3 This version was exported to Denmark and Sweden but was also produced under licence in Japan by Kawasaki In 1925 the Komet III was replaced in production by the Do B Merkur I which featured a revised fin and longer span wings When fitted with the BMW VI engine it became known as the Do B Bal Merkur II as did indeed any Komets thus re engined The type was widely used by Deutsche Luft Hansa which had some 30 Merkurs operating at one time and was also exported to Brazil China Colombia Japan and Switzerland The Do C and Do D were follow on military designs the former a trainer exported to Chile and Colombia the latter a floatplane torpedo bomber built for the Yugoslav Royal Navy The designation Do T was used for a landplane ambulance version A replica Dornier Merkur was made for the Dorner Museum in the early 2000s Variants edit nbsp Dornier Do D seaplane version from L Aerophile December 1927 nbsp Dornier Merkur ambulance versionFirst of the Komet series Do Komet II Do Komet III larger more powerful four six passenger version 3 Do B Merkur I Do B Bal Merkur II Do C Military version of the Komet IIIDo C 1 Two seat fighter Do C 2A Recognition version Do C 3 Recognition version Do C 4 Do 10 development of C 1 Do D A much revised floatplane torpedo bomber version for the Royal Yugoslav Air Force Do T An ambulance versionOperators editCivil operators edit nbsp Dornier B Bal Merkur of Ad Astra Aero S A nbsp Dornier Merkur CH 142 operated by Ad Astra Aero 1927 nbsp ColombiaSCADTA 4 nbsp GermanyDeutsche Luft Hansa 5 Deutsche Luft Reederei 5 nbsp SwitzerlandAd Astra Aero 6 nbsp UkraineUkrvozdukhput 7 nbsp Soviet UnionDeruluft 4 Dobrolyot 4 Military operators edit nbsp ChileChilean Air Force Chilean Navy nbsp ColombiaColombian Air Force nbsp Kingdom of YugoslaviaYugoslav Royal NavySpecifications Merkur II edit nbsp Dornier Merkur 3 view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No 30 nbsp Dornier Merkur replica on display nbsp Dornier Merkur side view nbsp Front view nbsp Interior view of the Merkur on display at the Dornier MuseumData from European Transport Aircraft since 1910 8 General characteristicsCrew one Capacity eight passengers Length 12 5 m 41 ft 0 in Wingspan 19 6 m 64 ft 4 in Height 3 56 m 11 ft 8 in 9 Wing area 62 0 m2 667 sq ft Empty weight 2 100 kg 4 630 lb Gross weight 3 600 kg 7 937 lb Powerplant 1 BMW VI water cooled V 12 engine 450 kW 600 hp Performance Maximum speed 200 km h 120 mph 110 kn Cruise speed 180 km h 110 mph 97 kn Range 750 km 466 mi 405 nmi 10 Service ceiling 5 200 m 17 100 ft References edit Les avions Dornier Les Ailes 8 2 11 August 1921 A New German All Metal Machine Flight XIII 13 223 224 31 March 1921 a b Serryer J 19 February 1925 L Avion Dornier Komet III Les Ailes 192 2 a b c Hooks Aeroplane June 2016 p 52 a b Hooks Aeroplane June 2016 p 51 Hooks Aeroplane June 2016 pp 52 53 Hooks Aeroplane June 2016 pp 51 52 Stroud 1966 p 246 Donald 1995 p 347 Stroud Aeroplane Monthly January 1984 p 39 Bibliography editCooksley Peter September October 1996 Celestial Coaches Dornier s Record Breaking Komet and Merkur Air Enthusiast 65 20 24 ISSN 0143 5450 Donald David ed 1997 The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Leicester UK Blitz Editions ISBN 1 85605 375 X Hooks Mike June 2016 Dornier Rising Aeroplane Vol 44 no 5 pp 48 53 ISSN 0143 7240 Isaic Vladimir March April 1999 Yugoslav Naval Strike Dornier s Merkur Seaplane in the Military Role Air Enthusiast 80 72 75 ISSN 0143 5450 Ledet Michel April 1993 L aeronautique naval yugoslave des annees 20 a Avril 1941 Yugoslav Naval Aviation from the Twenties to April 1941 Avions Toute l aeronautique et son histoire in French 2 2 12 ISSN 1243 8650 Nikolic Djordie amp Ognjevic Akeksandar M 2021 Dornier The Yugoslav Saga 1926 2007 Lublin Poland Kagero Publishing ISBN 978 83 66673 61 8 Stroud John 1966 European Transport Aircraft since 1910 London Putnam Stroud John January 1984 Wings of Peace Part 4 Dornier Komet and Merkur Aeroplane Monthly Vol 12 no 1 pp 34 39 ISSN 0143 7240 Tassell Roy May June 1999 Round Out Air Enthusiast 81 78 ISSN 0143 5450 Zuerl Walter 1941 Deutsche Flugzeug Konstrukteure Munchen Germany Curt Pechstein Verlag Further reading editTaylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions p 327 World Aircraft Information Files London Bright Star Publishing pp File 892 Sheet 26 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dornier Do T Komet nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dornier Do B Merkur German aircraft between 1919 and 1945 Archived 30 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dornier Komet amp oldid 1212085819, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
