Dornier Do R Superwal
Dornier · Germany · first flew 1926 · transport aircraft
The Dornier Do R Superwal was a large German commercial flying boat of the mid-1920s, developed as an enlarged version of the earlier Wal design. It was intended for long-range passenger and mail routes across open water.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 24 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large four-engine flying boat
- Parasol-mounted hull with wing-mounted engines in tandem push-pull pairs
- 1920s Dornier biplane-era seaplane design
Distinguished by its large parasol monoplane wing over a broad boat hull, with two tandem engine nacelles mounted above the wing carrying two engines each in push-pull arrangement.
Specifications
- The Dornier Do R Superwal has a length of 24 m (79 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 37 m (121 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 185 km/h (115 mph).
- Typical crew: 4 + passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1926, the Superwal represented Dornier's effort to scale up the successful twin-engined Wal formula into a heavier transport. Like the Wal, it featured the characteristic twin-hull sponsons and tandem push-pull engine arrangement. Very few were built, and the type remained largely experimental.
Variants
The Do R Superwal was produced in limited numbers with some engine configuration variations using different powerplants available at the time.
Where you'll see it
Operated in very small numbers on European and transatlantic route trials in the late 1920s.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.