Dornier Do 215
Dornier · Germany · first flew 1938 · bomber
The Dornier Do 215 was an export version of the Do 17Z bomber fitted with more powerful Daimler-Benz liquid-cooled engines, initially ordered by foreign customers but ultimately absorbed into Luftwaffe service as a reconnaissance aircraft. It retained the Do 17's distinctive ultra-slender fuselage.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Very slender twin-engine fuselage with glazed nose and mid-set straight wings |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Export development of the Do 17 'Flying Pencil' with more powerful engines
- Very slender twin-engine fuselage with glazed nose and mid-set straight wings
- Used by Germany as a reconnaissance bomber after export orders were embargoed
Virtually identical to the Do 17Z at a glance — very slender twin-engine fuselage, glazed nose, mid-wing straight wings — distinguished mainly by the larger Daimler-Benz engine nacelles vs. the BMW-powered Do 17.
Specifications
- The Dornier Do 215 has a length of 15.8 m (52 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 18 m (59 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 470 km/h (292 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Originally developed for Yugoslavia and Sweden, the Do 215's export contracts were blocked by the German government on the outbreak of war in 1939 and the aircraft were pressed into Luftwaffe service. They served as reconnaissance aircraft and night fighters (Do 215B-5) over Britain during the Battle of Britain and beyond.
Variants
The Do 215B was the main Luftwaffe variant; the B-5 was modified as a night intruder/fighter with a solid nose and flame-damped exhaust. A small number of Do 215A-1s were exported to the Soviet Union before the war.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Luftwaffe in reconnaissance and night-fighter roles, 1940–42; also used briefly by the Soviet Air Force and Hungary received a few aircraft.
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