Dornier Do 28 (Skyservant)

History of Dornier Do 28 (Skyservant)

In the mid-1950s, Dornier Flugzeugbau GmbH in West Germany developed the Do 27 short take-off and landing (STOL) single-engine light aircraft. This small high-wing cantilever aircraft has a very successful lifespan, with many variants and operators in the civilian and military markets. This design resulted in a new product, the twin-engine version of the Do 27, which became the Do 28 in 1959.

The model was created using the same high-wing layout and a pair of bottom-mounted Lycoming engines driving three-bladed propellers. The Do 28 retains many of the key qualities of the Do 27, including STOL capabilities.

The original Do 28 series was spearheaded by a prototype simply known as the "Do 28". It was equipped with 2 180 hp Lycoming O-360-A1A engines, each driving a twin-blade propeller unit. The first flight was on April 29, 1959.

This was followed by the Do 28A-1, which was equipped with a 250 hp O-540-A1A engine. Its main wing was raised 7 feet to improve stability and handling, and its first flight was recorded on March 20, 1960. 60 copies of this form have been completed. The Do 28A-1 is a form of seaplane.

The Do 28B-1 was largely based on the previous D 28A model, with a larger rear fin, larger fuel reservoir and larger nose cone. The engine is an IO-540 (fuel injected) driven three-bladed propeller unit. 60 of them were also produced.

The Do 28B-1-S was originally intended to be a seaplane version, but failed. The Do 28B-2 introduced a turbocharged Lycoming engine (TIO-540 series), but only one was produced. The Do 28C is a planned eight-seat personnel carrier.

Its propulsion came from two 530-horsepower turboprop engines, but the design was not further developed.

The Do 28D "Skyservant" later became the final product of the Do 28 series. This saw a new boxy fuselage with increased area wings. Power is provided by two 380 hp IGSO-540 series engines. Completed nine of this brand. The Do 28D-1 was the first production model to add a longer wingspan.

The production volume is 54 units. The Do 28D-1 was followed by a strengthened fuselage, larger cabin and increased maximum takeoff weight (MTOW). Production increased by 172 aircraft.

The D 28D-2/OU was used for pollution patrol missions, a single Do 28D-2 converted to a Do 28D-2T with 2 x Lycoming TIGO-540 turbo engines.

The Do 28D-5X "Turbo Skyservant" is a proposed turboprop model (Lycoming LTP-101-600, 400ho each) that first flew in April 1978, but exists only as a prototype. Another prototype is the Do 28D-6X, equipped with PT6A-110 turboprop engines, each producing 400 horsepower.

This aircraft flew in March 1980 and became the Do 128-6.

Then there was the Do 28E-TNT, a Do 28D with a new wing with a span of 55.7 feet. Powered by 2 x 715hp Garret TPE331-5-252D engines, the prototype first flew on June 14, 1979 to test its new "high-tech" wing main aircraft.

The wings were subsequently used on the new Do 228 product (described in detail elsewhere on this website).

Do 28 G. 92 is an upgraded version of Do 28D. The work was carried out in 1995 and included the installation of 2 Walter Engines M601-D2 turboprops, each 450 hp. A total of seven examples of this type were made. The Do 128-D is the Do 28D-2, an overall improvement.

The Do 128-6 is the primary production-quality form developed by the Turbo Skyservant, with six completed.

Like the Do 27, the Do 28 saw a variety of operators use high-performance light aircraft in a variety of roles (military and civilian). These range from Angola and Benin to Somalia and Thailand. Many are still in use today (2015), demonstrating the effectiveness of evolutionary design.

Specification

Basic

Production

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Performance

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Changes