Dornier Do 31 E1, D-9530

Large Image

Photo back translation

The Dornier Do 31 E-1, the world's first vertical takeoff jet transport, was completed on November 30, 1965, at Dornier-Werke GmbH in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich. The companies HFB (Hamburger Flugzeugbau GmbH) and VFW (Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke GmbH) were involved in the design and construction of the aircraft. Dornier-Werke will soon begin systems and flight testing of this, the largest aircraft of its kind to date (VTOL)

On February 10, 1967, the first prototype, (Do 31 E1, D-9530) conducted its maiden flight, powered by just the two 15,500 lbf Rolls-Royce Pegasus BE.53/2 turbofan engines. During July 1967, the third prototype (Do 31 E3, D-9531), which was furnished with eight 4,400 lbf Rolls-Royce RB162-4D vertically wing mounted turbojet lift engines, performed the first hovering flight.

Only three Do 31 were built. E2 was a static test airframe, and did not fly.