Dornier Wal

Type (Muster)
Commercial Flying Boat

Country (Land)
Germany (Deutschland)

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Dornier

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): two plus eight passengers

Power plant (Antrieb)
2 x Rolls Royce Eagle IX
Power (Leistung): 2 x360 HP (265 kW)

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Lenght (Länge): 17,25 m
Height (Höhe): 5,20 m
Span (Spannweite): 22,50 m
Wing area (Flügelfläche): 96 sq m

Weights (Massen)
Operating weight empty (Leermasse): 3560 kg
Max. payload (max. Nutzlast): 5700 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. speed (max. Fluggeschwindigkeit): 180 km per h
Range (Reichweite): 2200 km
Service Ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 3500 m

Versions (Versionen)
Two primary versions existed: the Wal-Militär (military) and the Wal-Verkehr (commercial). There were a large number of subversions which differed mainly in the choice of engines.

Customers (Kunden)
Over 300 Wal were built by CMASA, Piaggio in Italy, CASA in Spain, Kawasaki in Japan, Aviolanda in the Netherlands and Dornier in Germany. They flew with a wide variety of airlines and military services all over the world. Operators included Deutsche Aero Lloyd (later Lufthansa) and the German Luftwaffe.

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The Wal first flew in November 1924. The flight as well as most of the production until 1932 took place in Italy because all avaiation activity in Germany was prohibited after World War I. It was designed as a passenger flying boat for oceanic use and later found use as a military flying boat for patrol and search-and rescue duties. The Wal featured a very rugged metal construction which made it ideal for long distance pioneering flights. Wolfgang Gronau for example flew with a Wal from Greenland to Chicago in 1930. Two years later he successfully attempted a flight around the world in his Wal. The Wal was the last commercial flying boat in Germany and also marked both the climax and the end of German commercial flying boat duties.

Last updated Oktober 15, 1997

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