Let Let Let – Warplanes

Technical details:

Engines: four Hispano-Suiza 12 Lbr liquid-cooled engines of 640 hp each
Wing span: 31.00 m
Length: 25.80 m
Height: 7.90 m
Max. speed: 205 km/h
Service ceiling: 2700 m
All-up weight: 16000 kg

Dornier Do-12 (1932)

Based on the earlier Libelle light flying boat, Dornier designed in the early thirties a light amphibian fitted with an engine on a pod on top of the wing centre section. It had a single shoulder-mounted wing and construction was entirely of metal except for the covering of tail and control surfaces which were covered by fabric. Designated as Do-12 it made its first flight on 23 June 1932. Originally it was fitted with a 220 hp Argus As-10 in-line engine, but later this was replaces by a more powerful Gnome-Rhone Titan 5 Ke radial engine of 317 hp.

A picture of the first version of the Do-12 fitted with an Argus in-line engine

Only one Do-12 was built. In 1936 it was taken over by the MIVA (Missions-Verkehrs-Arbeitsgemeinschaft), a missionary institution where it was operated by the well know ‘flying priest’ Father Schulte under the name ‘Das fliegende Kreuz’ (the flying cross). Remarkable is the fact that MIVA made the Do-12 in November 1936 available for towing trials with the glider flying boat ‘Seeadler’ (sea-eagle). The Seeadler was flown by the famous German female pilot Hanna Reitsch.

Final version of the Do-12 with a Titan radial air-cooled engine

Technical details:

Engine: Argus As-10 of 220 hp; later replaced by a Gnome-Rhone Titan 5 Ke of 317 hp
Wing span: 13.00 m
Length: 9.00 m
Height: 4.20 m
Max. speed: 210 km/h
Service ceiling: 51000 m
All-up weight: 1400 kg

DFS Seeadler flying boat gliderwith the female pilot Hanna Reitsch

Nico Braas

References:

-Anonymous, Dornier-Die Chronik des ältesten deutschen Flugzeugwerks. Aviatik Verlag/Dornier GmbH 1985
-Fred Gütschow, Die deutschen Flugboote, Motorbuch Verlag 1978
-Peter Pletschacher, Grossflugschiff Dornier Do-X, Aviatik Verlag 1997
-Claudius Dornier; Erich Tilgenkamp, Do X Das größte Flugschiff der Welt,  Orell Füssli Verlag 1931
-P.St. John Turner, Heinkel-An aircraft album, Ian Allan, UK 1970
-Hugo Hooftman, Van Farman tot Neptune, La Rivière & Voorhoeven, the Netherlands 1964
-Michiel van der Mey, Dornier Wal vliegboot, Van der Mey Books, Hilversum/Kleve 1986
-David Oliver, Wings over water, Greenwich Editions, UK 2003

Photo credit: Nico Braas, Dornier, Srecko Bradic

(With special thanks to mr. Bob de Nies)

See also German Flying Boats and Amphibian Part 2

Related posts:

1. German flying boats Part 2: 1935-2000
2. Dutch flying boats and amphibians
3. French flying boats and amphibians
4. Dornier Do-28 amphibian for the MLD
5. Vanneau history

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