The Dornier Do31 was a German VTOL transport aircraft by Dornier. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, and/or spacecraft. ... The Maiden flight of an aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord. ... is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... The Hawker Harrier, one of the famous examples of a plane with VTOL capability. ... Look up aircraft in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Dornier may refer to Claudius Dornier, original founder of Dornier GmbH Lindauer DORNIER GmbH FairchildDornier Dornier Medtech [1], maker of medical equipment e. ...

Design and development

Initial designs incorporated a Bristol Pegasus^[1] vectored-thrust turbofan in each of the two inboard nacelles and four Rolls-Royce RB162 lift engines in each of the outer nacelles. It was planned to dispense with the outer nozzles and their engines when larger RB153 turbofans (of around 5,000 lbf or so thrust) became available. By mounting the engines in pods, the fuselage could provide a capacious hold with a rear loading ramp. Rolls-Royce Pegasus Rolls-Royce Pegasus This engine should not be confused with the older Bristol Pegasus radial piston engine The Rolls Royce Pegasus is a turbofan engine originally designed by Bristol (hence the name from Greek mythology) and now manufactured by Rolls-Royce plc. ... Thrust vectoring is the ability of an aircraft to direct the thrust from its main engine(s) in a direction other than parallel to the aircrafts length. ... Schematic diagram of high-bypass turbofan engine CFM56-3 turbofan, lower half, side view. ... Look up nacelle in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The first prototype (E1) first flew on 10 February 1967 with just the two Pegasus engines. The second prototype (E2) flew in July 1967 with all ten engines. The first hovering flight was on 22 November 1967. Full forward and backward transitions were made in December 1967. is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ...

The aircraft established several world records during its ferry flight to the 1969 Paris Air Show. It was the first, and so far the only, vertical take-off jet transport to be built. The project was cancelled in April 1970. One of the factors was the large drag and weight of the engine pods which reduced the useful payload and range compared to conventional transport aircraft. A Mirage 2000-5 at the Paris Air Show The Paris Air Show (Salon International de lAéronautique et de lEspace, Paris-Le Bourget) is an international trade fair for the aerospace business. ...

Specifications (Do 31)

General characteristics

• Payload: 3,500 kg (7,715 lb)
• Length: 20.53 m (67 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 19.7 m (64 ft 7 in)
• Height: 28 ft (8.53 m)
• Wing area: 613.56 ft² (57 m²)
• Empty weight: 49,500 lbs (22,453 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 60,500 lbs (27,422 kg)
• Powerplant:
  • 2× Rolls Royce Pegasus 5-2 turbofans, 15,500 lb (68.95 kN) each
  • 8× Rolls Royce RB162-4D vertically mounted turbojet lift engines, 1,996 kgf (19.57 kN) each

Performance

• Cruise speed: 700 km/h (435 mph)
• Range: 1,800 km (1,120 mi with maximum payload)
• Service ceiling: 34,500 ft (10,515 m)

The distance AB is the wing span of this Aer Lingus Airbus A320. ... In aviation, the Maximum Take-Off Weight (or MTOW) is the maximum weight with which an aircraft is allowed to try to achieve flight. ... Rolls-Royce Pegasus Rolls-Royce Pegasus This engine should not be confused with the older Bristol Pegasus radial piston engine The Rolls Royce Pegasus is a turbofan engine originally designed by Bristol (hence the name from Greek mythology) and now manufactured by Rolls-Royce plc. ... The kilonewton, symbol kN, is an SI unit of force. ... Airspeed Indicator in a light aircraft The VC of an aircraft is the V speed which refers to the velocity of cruising. ... The maximal total range is the distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing as limited by its fuel capacity. ... In aeronautics, the service ceiling is the maximum density altitude where the best rate of climb airspeed will produce a 100 feet per minute climb(twin engine) and 50 feet(single engine) at maximum weight while in a clean configuration with maximum continuous power. ...

Reference

• The complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, 1152 pp.

External links

• Project history and photos
• Photos of museum example

See also

• Armstrong Whitworth AW.681 - planned VSTOL transport with 4 Pegasus engines.