HAL Dornier 228
HAL · India · first flew 1981 · transport aircraft
The Indian licence-built Dornier 228, a rugged twin-turboprop light transport built around an advanced high-lift wing for short-field and utility work.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboprop, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Square-section fuselage with large windows |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High straight supercritical wing with slim nacelles
- Square-section fuselage with large windows
- Fixed or semi-retractable slim undercarriage
A boxy high-wing twin turboprop with a distinctive long straight wing, slim engine nacelles and a slab-sided fuselage — angular and utilitarian compared with the rounder Twin Otter.
Specifications
- The HAL Dornier 228 has a length of 16.56 m (54 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.97 m (56 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 433 km/h (269 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 flight crew.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Dornier developed the 228 with a new supercritical wing, and it first flew in March 1981. HAL manufactures the type in India for military and civil use, serving the coast guard, navy and border-surveillance roles with maritime-patrol equipment.
Variants
The family includes the shorter 228-100/200 series and stretched developments, with Indian aircraft configured for transport, maritime patrol and surveillance duties.
Where you'll see it
The Dornier 228 has UK relevance through commuter and survey operators who flew the type, while HAL-built examples serve the Indian armed forces in patrol and transport roles.
Related aircraft
- HAL Dhruv
- HAL Cheetah
- HAL (SEPECAT) Jaguar International
- HAL Lancer
- Dornier 228-100
- Fairchild SA227-AT Expediter
- LearAvia Lear Fan 2100
- An-124 Ruslan
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.