Dornier Do 28 is a family of twin-engine light utility aeroplanes from Dornier Flugzeugwerk. Substantially based on their relatively popular single-engine Do 27, the Do 28 A-1 with two 250HP Lycoming O-540 engines, first flew on the 20th of March 1960. Having generally good flight characteristics except for poor single-engine performance, Do 28 A was developed three years later into the Do 28 B, with two 290HP IO-540 engines, three-bladed propellers, larger tail, and redesigned nose. The Do 28 B was followed by an entirely new and larger design, only superficially similar to the previous models: the Do 28 D. All three types had good "short take-off and landing" (STOL) capabilities. This page focuses on the Do 28 A.
| Do 28 A-1 | Do 28 B-1 | Do 28 D | Do 27 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length (m) | 9.2 | 9.0 | 11.4 | 9.6 |
| Height (m) | 2.8 | 2.8 | 3.9 | 3.5 |
| Wing span (m) | 13.8 | 13.8 | 15.5 | 12.0 |
| Wing Area (m2) | 22.4 | 22.4 | 29.0 | 19.4 |
| Empty Weight (kg) | 1670 | 1725 | 2238 | 1050-1100 |
| Take-off Weight (kg) | 2450 | 2670 | 4015 | 1570-1850 |
| Max Speed (km/h) | 280 | 302 | 250-296 | |
| Cruise Speed (km/h) | 250 | 280 | 272 | 215-250 |
| Landing Speed (km/h) | 85 | 85 | ||
| Service Ceiling (m) | 5900 | 6300 | 7680 | 3600-5600 |
| Range (km) | 1150 | 1780 | 2875 | 1100-1360 |
| Take-off distance (m) | 310 | 272 | 546 | 260-140 |
| Landing distance (m) | 210 | 225 | 530 | 165-290 |
| Seats (crew + pax) | 2 + 6 | 2 + 6 | 2 + 12 | 4/6/8 |
All models have a high-mounted wing without struts and two engines unusually arranged on stub wings at the bottom of the fuselage with the fixed main landing gear underneath. The A model can be distinguished from the B model by larger, more prominent exhaust outlets, two-bladed propellers, nose profile, and landing light in the wing tip.
The B model had smaller, more streamlined exhaust outlets, three-bladed propellers, and landing light in the nose.
The D model is larger and more angular. The engine nacelles and fuselage are almost rectangular in cross-section, whereas they are oval in the A and B models.
The type's good STOL characteristics meant that it was often used to transport passengers or cargo to small, unimproved 'bush' airstrips. As well as official military operations, the type was used by Air America and Bird & Sons, both CIA front companies, in south-east Asia before and during the Viet Nam war. Even more notoriously, five examples were used by the short-lived Katangese Air Force. At least one was used for missionary work in the Pacific. The type was also used for air taxi work by such operators as Deutsche Taxiflug (D-IBAG) which later merged with Deutsche Nahluft to become Air Lloyd (operating D-IHUL). The type was also used by FINA (PetroFina) in Canada, Rosenthal China, and the French Customs service.
RUAG Aerospace currently hold the type certificate, A.360 for all Do 28 models and Do 128. The US FAA has corresponding type certificate 7A13. RUAG also hold the type certificate for the Do 228 which they have developed into the Do 224NG.
An Airworthiness Directive list can be downloaded from the LBA (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, German aviation authority), but it seems like the actual ADs are not available electronically.
All piston-powered versions of the Do 28 (A, B and D) used a version of Lycoming's 6 cylinder O-540 (horizontally opposed, 540 cubic inch) family of engines.
| Do 28 A-1 | Do 28 B-1 | Do 28 D-1 & -2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | O-540-A1D | IO-540-A1A5 | IGSO-540-A1E |
| Power (HP) | 250 @ 2575 rpm | 290 @ 2575 rpm | 380 @ 3200rpm |
| Fuel delivery | carburettor | fuel injection | fuel injection |
| Air delivery | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated | supercharged |
| Propeller Drive | direct | direct | geared (77:120) |
Sixty series Do 28 A-1 were built, numbered 3001 to 3060. Sixty subsequent Do 28 B were numbered 3061 to 3120.
| Constr. nbr | Registration | Notes | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3000 | PT-IIP | (Do 28 A prototype, Brazil)
| Cert of Airworthiness expired 1979. |
| 3004 | D-IHUL | written off 1972 | |
| 3005 | OY-AIW |
| written off 27-JUL-1960 |
| 3007 | SE-CON | written off 1963 | |
| 3009 | D-IBYD | written off 1973 | |
| 3010 | D-IATA |
| Under restoration? |
| 3011 | N2001F |
| |
| 3023 | N12828 |
| |
| 3024 | D-IDTF | Operated by Air Lloyd, crashed and repaired, Germany, 10-SEP-1963 | |
| 3025 | D-ICTF | Operated by Air Lloyd.
| written off 13-oct-1964 |
| 3026 | XW-PCG | BAAA:"Encountered very bad weather conditions with heavy rain falls. The pilot apparently lost his orientation when the aircraft crashed in an isolated area located 15 km east of Mahaxay. All three crew members were killed." operated by Boun Oum Airways | |
| 3027 | N2002F |
| |
| 3030 | EC-BNH | written off 11-Jan-1975 | |
| 3034 | N96155 | BAAA:"On final approach to Gabert Island Airport, encountered severe turbulences, lost height and crashed in a wooded area" Operated by Pacific Missionary Aviation. | written off 20-Jun-1977 |
| 3044 | PJ-ADI | written off 17-may-1971 | |
| 3047 | F-OCBR |
| |
| 3048 | D-IBEW | Operated by Air Lloyd. Lost in mid-air collision with Lockheed Starfighter DA+103 | written off 02-Jun-1965 |
| 3049 | ST-ACM | written off 01-Jan-1970 | |
| 3050 | D-IBEX, CS-AIO, N20LP |
Owned by me.
| In storage, complete but not airworthy, Auckland, NZ. |
| 3051 | D-IBOM, G-ASUR, N123CA | One of the few flying examples left. Lives at Shuttleworth, UK.
| |
| 3056 | D-IBIT, HB-LCK | BAAA: "Upon landing at Albenga Airport [Italy], the twin engine airplane veered off runway to the right and came to rest in a grassy area. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair." | written off 02-Jun-1979 |
| 3058 | XW-PCT | written off 24-Mar-1976 | |
| 3059 | HS-CHI | BAAA: Crash while "taking part to a skydiving exercise on behalf of the Office of Royally-Sponsored Artificial Rain" in Thailand | written off 22-Oct-1979 |
