Doflug D-3802
Dornier Werke Altenrhein · Switzerland · first flew 1942 · fighter
The Doflug D-3802 was a Swiss-developed single-seat fighter that evolved from the French Morane-Saulnier MS.450 design, built by Dornier Werke Altenrhein (Doflug) to provide Switzerland with an indigenous fighter capability during World War II.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.75 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Swiss licence-built Morane-Saulnier MS.450 derivative
- Hispano-Suiza 12Y inline engine
- Low-wing monoplane fighter, retractable undercarriage
A clean low-wing monoplane with a liquid-cooled inline engine, retractable tailwheel undercarriage, and enclosed cockpit; the elongated nose housing the Hispano-Suiza engine is the primary recognition cue distinguishing it from radial-engined contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Doflug D-3802 has a length of 8.75 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.65 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 578 km/h (359 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Switzerland needed modern fighters during WWII to defend its neutrality and turned to domestic production when foreign supply became unreliable. Doflug produced the D-3801 (a licence MS.406) and then developed the improved D-3802 with a more powerful engine. The D-3802 proved fast and capable but arrived too late and in too few numbers to substantially affect Swiss fighter strength, which continued to rely primarily on the D-3801.
Variants
The D-3802 was produced in two main sub-variants, the D-3802A and D-3802B, differing in engine and armament details; the family descended from the Morane-Saulnier lineage via the Swiss D-3801.
Where you'll see it
Operated exclusively by the Swiss Flugwaffe in small numbers; the type never saw combat given Switzerland's neutrality and was used primarily for evaluation and familiarisation.
Related aircraft
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