Dornier Do J Wal
Dornier · Germany · first flew 1922 · transport aircraft
The Dornier Wal (Whale) was a successful German metal flying boat of the 1920s and 1930s, widely used for mail and passenger routes across the South Atlantic and in early polar exploration.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 18.3 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-engine flying boat with tandem push-pull engine arrangement
- Prominent sponsons replacing a conventional hull step
- All-metal construction on a 1920s commercial flying boat
Distinguished by its twin tandem engines mounted atop the parasol wing in a push-pull arrangement, the Dornier-style sponsons instead of wingtip floats, and all-metal construction.
Specifications
- The Dornier Do J Wal has a length of 18.3 m (60 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 23.2 m (76 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 185 km/h (115 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1922, the Wal was manufactured in Spain and Italy to circumvent Versailles Treaty restrictions. It was used by Lufthansa on experimental South Atlantic services and by Roald Amundsen's 1925 polar expedition.
Variants
Numerous engine combinations were fitted over the type's long life; the Do R Super Wal was a larger developed version.
Where you'll see it
Operated by airlines and air forces across Europe, South America, and beyond through the 1930s.
Related aircraft
- Dornier Do H Falke
- Dornier Libelle
- Dornier Delphin
- Dornier Merkur
- Aero A.10
- Besson H-5
- de Havilland DH.27 Derby
- Fokker F.V
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