1922 - Wal - Flying Boat
Dornier Wal, one of the most remarkable flying boats in German aviation history, was a braced high-wing monoplane of all-metal design with fabric-covered wing and control surfaces. The wing halves were connected to the centre section, which formed the engine nacelle, and were braced against the sponsons by means of one pair of struts each. The intrinsically stable two-step hull was equipped with the well-proven Dornier sponsons. Hull and sponsons had several bulkheads. Hull subdivision: observer’s seat with machine gun in the nose, two-seat flight deck, fuel tanks and bomb dropping facilities, observer’s seat with machine gun in the tail. Different engines installed in tandem were used: Hispano-Suiza, Rolls-Royce Eagle, Liberty, Napier Lione, Gnôme Jupiter, Lorraine-Dietrich, Isotta Asso und BMW VI. Different radiator arrangements, as well as two and fourblade wooden propellers were tested. The tail unit consisted of one tail fin and one horizontal stabilizer each with rudders attached.
Aircraft construction was heavily restricted in Germany by the Versailles Treaty. Costruzioni Meccaniche Aeronautiche SA was established at Marina di Pisa/Italy in 1922. The Dornier Wal made its first flight on 6 November 1922. This version was delivered to Spain, the Netherlands, Chile, Argentina, Japan, Russia and Yugoslavia. The aircraft was built under licence in the Netherlands, in Spain and in Japan. In February 1925, this Dornier Wal established 20 world records.
Technical Data
| Length | 17,3 m |
| Height | 5,2 m |
| Wing span | 22,5 m |
| Wing area | 96,0 m² |
| Powerplant Rolls-Royce Eagle | 2x 360 PS |
| Empty weight | 3560 kg |
| All-up weight (depending on powerplant) | 5000/5700 kg |
| Maxium speed | 180 km/h |
| Climb to 3000 m | 33 min |
| Service ceiling | 3500 m |
| Crew | 3 |
