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Sneakpeak: Dornier Do-31 S/VTOL
🕑 Added 2020-10-30 22:05:51 +0000 UTCHey all,
One of the next "Inside-The-Cockpit's" will be this beauty - the Dornier Do-31, a purpose built S/VTOL transport jet! It was build during the Cold War when VTOL capabilities first started to appear together with the VAK-191B that already featured on the channel. It was hoped that a VTOL capable transporter could provide a valuable resupply asset if the Cold War went hot. The theory was that isolated units or rather frontline troops far away from an airfield could be resupplied directly by this aircraft, rather than having to wait for trucks coming their way. While the plane worked, it didn't have a competitive capacity (roughly 3-5 tons depending what you ship), was expensive and needed a high degree of training. After a brief interest by NASA and a short excursion into the possibility of converting it to civilian use, the Dornier Do-31 project was shut down.
The plane is beautiful, futuristic and unique (three prototypes build, two survived). This one is found at the Flugwerft Schleißhim near Munich. Sadly, the footage we filmed leaves much to be desired so I will have to say in advance, it's not my best work from a visual standpoint. I was working with a new camera person who was new to filming aircraft and sadly, I didn't pay enough attention to make sure the footage turns out well and we had some miscommunications on the quality of his kit.
Hoping you will still enjoy it and hopefully, I can go back some day to make it justice. Stand-by in the coming days for Early Access!
All the best,
Chris
Comments
F35
Steve Kurt
VSTOL was the sexy new thing in aviation for a while, and then everyone just decided.. "eh.. the novelty is gone... just forget it". ... except for the Harrier, the DeHavilland Caribou, Yak-38(?), and perhaps a few others.
Wayne Moyer
Anyone else worried that he was going to get stabbed by the aircraft in that lead in image?
