German designer floats proposals for large-cabin twin turboprop and kitplane
Iren Dornier, grandson of famous aircraft designer Claudius Dornier, is seeking partners for two amphibious aircraft projects. The first is a large cabin twin-turboprop special-mission concept, and the other a two-seat kitplane based on a vintage Dornier design from the 1920s.
Dornier is based in the Philippines, where he runs regional airline SEAir as a division of his German-based company Dornier Technologie Aircraft Engineering. He says that the proposed Do-24S special mission amphibian could carry 33-45 people or be equipped to operate a variety of missions such as surveillance, cargo or firefighting. "It would have a maximum take-off weight [MTOW] of 33t, a range of 3,700km [2,000nm] and a cruise speed of 250kt [450km/h]," says Dornier. He adds that the baseline design is a twin turboprop equipped with engines in the 450shp (335kW) category, such as the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A – although a turbofan-powered version could also be developed.
The configuration of the aircraft would be similar to the Do-24ATT, in which Dornier has undertaken a round-the-world flight in aid of UNICEF, itself based on the pre-Second World War Do-24 amphibian.
"The Do-24S would have its fuel in the stub wings and the inboard main wing. The outer wings will be able to fold upwards to allow it to park easily in a harbour," he says.
Although the outline design is complete, the project is still in the early stages, with Dornier seeking partners to take it into production. "We're looking for partners in China and Europe," he says. "The Do-24S would be priced at around $20 million, and we see a market worldwide for around 500 special-mission aircraft."
Dornier's other project is called the Libelle, a two-seat amphibibous kitplane based on an earlier Dornier design. The baseline design of the aircraft is complete and Dornier says that the project is "open for partners".
"It would be of aluminium construction, with an MTOW of 750kg, and would sell for around $100,000," says Dornier, adding that the aircraft would be piston-powered, with a Rotax radial engine offered as an option.
MAX KINGSLEY-JONES/MANILA
Source: Flight International
