The Do 27's precursor, theDo 25, was developed by Dornier at the firm's facilities inSpain in order to satisfy a Spanish military requirement that called for a light utility aircraft withshort takeoff and landing (STOL) performance. However, the Do 25 was not selected for production by Spain. Despite this, the aircraft was developed further to produce the Do 27, which was produced in quantity in both Spain and Germany. In addition to domestic sales, a large number of export customers, such asPortugal, emerged for the Do 27, and it had a lengthy service life with some examples still being used into the twenty-first century. The aircraft was appreciated for its relatively wide, comfortablecabin and excellent short-field performance. In terms of its configuration, the Do 27 was a classic high-wing, "tail-dragger" aircraft with fixedlanding gear.
Shortly following the end of theSecond World War, Germany's extensive aerospace industry was dismantled and largely dissolved due to the country having been forbidden to either possess or manufacture military aircraft.[1] Despite this, in bothEast Germany andWest Germany, as the nation had been divided into during theCold War era, efforts to revive the nation's aerospace industry became widespread during the 1950s.[2]
German aircraft manufacturerDornier GmbH managed to retain its independence in the conflict's aftermath, and was keen to resume its aviation activities as soon as permissible.[3] During January 1951, the company chose to establish a new technical office inMadrid, Spain, and began bidding for contracts from Spain's Ministry of Aviation; prior to this, Dornier had developed strong ties to Spain via thelicensed production of theMesserschmitt Bf 109 fighter.[4][1]
During 1951, a development contract was secured for a commuter aircraft that possessedshort takeoff and landing (STOL) characteristics.[5] Dornier opted to develop a new aircraft, designing a monoplane with a high-mounted wing fitted with oversizedflaps, a wide wraparound windscreen, a fixedundercarriage and a relatively spacious cabin.[1] This new aircraft was powered by a singleENMA Tigre G.V; capable of generating a maximum of 110 kW (150 hp), this engine proved to be too weak to achieve satisfactory performance.[5] The first prototype of theDo 25 performed itsmaiden flight during July 1954.[5]
Due to the Tigre's performance deficit, it was decided to equip the second prototype with an alternative powerplant; it used theAmerican-sourcedContinental O-470 engine instead. The second prototype would subsequently function as a demonstrator for an improved derivative of the aircraft, designatedDo 27.[5]
Ultimately, the Do 25 was not selected for production. Despite this setback, Dornier decided to continue refining its design to develop the Do 27, which was sized to seat between four and six personnel. On 27 June 1955, the originalprototype performed itsmaiden flight in Spain.[6] A total of 40 Do 27s were manufactured in Spain byConstrucciones Aeronáuticas SA, designatedCASA-127.[1] However, the majority of production aircraft were constructed at Dornier's main base inGermany; the first German-built aircraft conducted its first flight on 17 October 1956. A total of 428 Do 27s would be produced in Germany.[1]
A significant portion of the Do 27's production run were acquired by the German military. By the mid-1950s,West Germany had been permitted, and even encouraged, to reequip itself as tensions rose between East and West in theCold War; due to its ability to operate from compact and unprepared airstrips, the Do 27 quickly garnered favour with military planners.[1] Both theGerman Air Force and theGerman Army placed a combined order for 428 aircraft of theDo 27A andDo 27B variants, the latter being equipped with dual controls for use as a trainer aircraft.[7][1]
The Do 27 was widely employed as a general purpose aircraft, frequently being used for utility transport andliaison duties.[1] Later on in the type's production run, a modified model of the aircraft, known as theDo 27Q-5, was developed; it had the same basic specifications but was equipped with a wider-track landing gear. Furthermore, the aircraft was offered as a twin-floatseaplane, theDo 27S-1; another model proposed was furnished with the largerLycoming GSO-480-B1B6 engine, capable of generating a maximum of 254 kW/340 hp, which was matched with a three-bladepropeller, theDo 27H-2.[citation needed]
During 1966, it was decided to terminate production of the Do 27.[1] By this point, the aircraft had been widely exported to numerous international operators, includingIsrael,Nigeria,Belgium,Turkey, andCongo. The type was extensively used by the German military into the 1980s, gradually being succeeded in its role by increasingly capablehelicopters; many ex-German aircraft were subsequently exported and used by other operators.[1]
In 1959, a Do 27 became the first aircraft ever to land on the Caribbean island ofSaba, on what is still to this daythe shortest commercial runway in the world.[9]
German Air Force Do 27 on display in theDeutsches MuseumClose view of the cabin with all entrances open from the outsideForward-facing view from inside the cabin, note the pilot at the controls
Data fromJane's all the World's Aircraft 1959-60[17]
^Cooper, Tom; Grandolini, Albert (2018).Showdown in Western Sahara, Volume 1: Air Warfare Over the Last African Colony, 1945-1975. Warwick, UK: Helion & Company Publishing. p. VI.ISBN978-1-912390-35-9.
Hirschel, Ernst Heinrich; Prem, Horst; Madelung, Gero (2012).Aeronautical Research in Germany : From Lilienthal until Today. Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg.ISBN978-3-642-18484-0.
Jackson, Paul A. (1976).German Military Aviation 1956–1976. Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK: Midland Counties Publications.ISBN0-904597-03-2.
"A West African Rarity".Air International. Vol. 29, no. 6. December 1985. p. 282.ISSN0306-5634.
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