Dornier Do 26
Dornier · Germany · first flew 1938 · transport aircraft
The Dornier Do 26 was a sleek four-engine flying boat designed for Lufthansa's transatlantic mail routes, featuring gull wings with tandem push-pull engine pairs and retractable wing-tip floats. Only six were built, but the design represented a peak of pre-war German seaplane engineering.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 24.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Elegant four-engine German flying boat with gull wing
- Tandem paired engines — two push, two pull
- Retractable wing-tip floats for minimal water drag
The Do 26 is recognised by its inverted gull wing carrying two tandem engine nacelles (each with a tractor and pusher propeller), retractable wingtip floats, and a very clean, slender hull. The gull wing is the primary recognition feature.
Specifications
- The Dornier Do 26 has a length of 24.6 m (81 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 30 m (98 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 335 km/h (208 mph).
- Typical crew: 4 + up to 9 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in May 1938, the Do 26 was intended for the North Atlantic Lufthansa service. After the outbreak of war, all six completed aircraft were taken over by the Luftwaffe for maritime patrol and supply duties. Three were lost in combat or accidents during the Norwegian campaign.
Variants
The Do 26A was the initial civil version; Do 26D was the militarised variant with a power-operated dorsal turret and additional armament. No significant further variants were built.
Where you'll see it
Civil service lasted only briefly before the war. Military use centred on Norway and the North Atlantic in 1940. The Luftwaffe found the type better suited to long-range patrol than to combat, and surviving aircraft were withdrawn after attrition.
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