Dornier Libelle

Dornier · Germany · first flew 1921 · light aircraft

The Dornier Libelle (Dragonfly) was a small single-engine flying boat developed by Dornier in the early 1920s for recreational and light civil aviation use. It was one of Dornier's early post-WWI civil designs as the company pivoted from wartime work.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	7.18 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Early 1920s Dornier light flying boat
Single-engine small civil flying boat for leisure use
Post-WWI German civil aviation pioneer aircraft

A very small mid-wing monoplane flying boat with a short boat hull, single nose-mounted engine and clean unbraced wings; the diminutive size distinguishes it from Dornier's larger flying boat designs of the period.

Specifications

The Dornier Libelle has a length of 7.18 m (24 ft).
It has a wingspan of 8.5 m (28 ft).
Its maximum speed is 120 km/h (75 mph).
Typical crew: 1-2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1921, the Libelle was sold in small numbers to private buyers and sporting aviators in Germany and abroad. Dornier produced several variants of the basic design, refining the hull and engine installation. The type demonstrated Dornier's characteristic all-metal construction applied to small aircraft.

Variants

Several subvariants with different engines were produced; the Libelle I and II differed in powerplant.

Where you'll see it

Operated privately in Germany and by a small number of export customers in the early 1920s; no military service.

Related aircraft

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