Dornier Libelle

The Dornier Libelle (en:"Dragonfly I"), also designated Do A, was a German open-cockpit, all-metal, parasol wing, monoplane flying boat aircraft, with partly fabric-covered wings. A landplane version, built without sponsons and fitted with a fixed tailwheel undercarriage was produced as the Dornier Spatz.[1]

Libelle
The Dornier Libelle II in the Deutsches Museum München
Role Flying boat
Manufacturer Dornier
Designer Claude Dornier
First flight 16 August 1921
Number built 2x Do A + 5x Libelle I + 3x Libelle II

Variants
Do A
Two prototypes of the Libelle[2]
Libelle I
The standard production model, five built, fitted with Siemens-Halske Sh 4 engines and two built with 59.7 kW (80 hp) Siemens-Halske Sh 5 engines.[2]
Libelle II
The improved Libelle II was powered by Siemens-Halske Sh 5 or 75 kW (101 hp) Siemens-Halske Sh 11 engines. Other engines fitted to Libelle II aircraft include the Bristol Lucifer and the ADC Cirrus. Three built.[2]

Accidents

A Dornier Libelle crashed into the sea off Milford beach in Auckland, New Zealand on 12 December 1929, killing both crewmen.[3]

Survivor

A Libelle II VQ-FAB, manufacturers number 117 built in 1925, which operated in Fiji, is displayed in the Deutsches Museum in the centre of Munich.[4]

Specifications (Libelle I)
Dornier Libelle 3-view drawing from Les Ailes March 9,1922

Data from [2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one
  • Capacity: two passengers
  • Length: 7.18 m (23 ft 7 in)
  • Wingspan: 8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 2.27 m (7 ft 5 in)
  • Wing area: 14 m2 (150 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 420 kg (926 lb)
  • Gross weight: 640 kg (1,411 lb)
  • Fuel capacity: fuel 42 kg (93 lb)fuel + oil 10 kg (22 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Siemens-Halske Sh 4 5-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engine, 45 kW (60 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 120 km/h (75 mph, 65 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 100 km/h (62 mph, 54 kn)
  • Range: 300 km (190 mi, 160 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 1,600 m (5,200 ft)

References
  1. "Dornier Spatz". Germany. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  2. "Do A Libelle". Germany: histaviation.com. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  3. Tragedy at Milford
  4. Ogden, 2006. p. 202
  • "Do A Libelle". Germany: histaviation.com. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  • Donald, David, ed. (1997). The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Prospero Books. p. 347. ISBN 1-85605-375-X. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  • Ogden, Bob (2006). Aviation Museums and Collections of Mainland Europe. Tonbridge, Kent: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-375-7.
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