Dornier Do 29

---

title: "Dornier Do 29" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["dornier-aircraft", "1950s-german-experimental-aircraft", "tiltrotor-aircraft", "twin-engined-pusher-aircraft", "high-wing-aircraft", "stol-aircraft", "aircraft-first-flown-in-1958", "aircraft-with-fixed-conventional-landing-gear"] description: "Experimental aircraft" topic_path: "geography/germany" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dornier_Do_29" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Experimental aircraft ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]

Field	Value
name	Do 29
image	Dornier Do 29 from left Dornier Museum 2009-09-27.jpg
caption	Do 29 on display at the Dornier Museum
aircraft_type	Experimental aircraft
national_origin	Germany
manufacturer	Dornier Flugzeugwerke
primary_user	DFL
construction_date	2
first_flight	12 December 1958
developed_from	Dornier Do 27
::

| name = Do 29 | logo = | logo_size = | image = Dornier Do 29 from left Dornier Museum 2009-09-27.jpg | alt = | caption = Do 29 on display at the Dornier Museum | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Experimental aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = Germany | manufacturer = Dornier Flugzeugwerke | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = | owners = | primary_user = DFL | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = 2 | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = 12 December 1958 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = Dornier Do 27 | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded =

The Dornier Do 29 was an experimental aircraft developed by Dornier Flugzeugwerke and, the Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt (German Aviation Laboratory) in the 1950s, used to test a tilting-propeller system for Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing (V/STOL) aircraft. The concept was proved successful in flight testing; however, no further development of the system or aircraft was proceeded with, and at the conclusion of its test program the Do 29 was retired.

Design and development

During the Second World War, Heinrich Focke of Focke-Achgelis, a manufacturer of helicopters, developed a design for a short takeoff and landing aircraft that would utilise a system of pusher propellers, one on each wing in a pusher configuration, to provide downward thrust and enhance lift. Designated Fa 269, the design was not developed due to the state of the war.

In the 1950s, however, a renewed interest in STOL and VTOL aircraft led to a re-evaluation of Focke's concept. Dornier was given a contract to develop an aircraft capable of demonstrating the tilting-propeller system. The aircraft, given the designation Do 29, was based on the Do 27 light transport, modified with twin Lycoming GO-480 engines mounted below the wings. These engines drove three-bladed, pusher propellers, that were capable of being tilted downwards to an angle of up to 90 degrees, and the engines were coupled so that symmetrical thrust could be maintained in the event of an engine failure.

The forward fuselage was also modified with a helicopter-like cockpit. A Martin-Baker ejection seat was provided for pilot escape in the event of an emergency. The previous Dornier Do 27 had capacity for 4 or 5 passengers, while the Do 29 was expected to have similar passenger numbers at 4 to 6 passengers.

Testing

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Dornier_Do_29_from_right_Dornier_Museum_2009-09-27.jpg" caption="The Do 29 at the Dornier Museum"] ::

Two examples of the Do 29 were constructed, while a third was planned but not built, with the first prototype flying on 12 December 1958. In the following flight testing, the propeller system was not rotated further than 60 degrees as opposed to its nominal 90 degree capability, but the aircraft proved to be highly successful, with a stalling speed of 24 km/h and exceptional short-field performance. The aircraft did have some issues during testing, as in July 1962, 1 of the 2 Do 29's was damaged and was written off. The 2nd remaining aircraft continued testing for another year before it was retired. The aircraft was expected to have an 82-foot takeoff run, but some sources state it had a 262-foot takeoff run and 147 foot run for landing.

Following testing, the Do-29's the tilting-propeller system was not further pursued after the end of the flight test program.

Aircraft on display

One of the Do 29 prototypes survived the program, and is displayed in the Dornier Museum in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

Operators

;

• Luftwaffe

Specifications (Do 29)

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Dornier_Do_29_engine_from_right_Dornier_Museum_2009-09-27.jpg" caption="Detail of propeller assembly"] ::

|ref= |prime units?=met

|genhide=

|crew=one (pilot) |capacity= |length m=9.5 |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=13.2 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m= |height ft=8 |height in=10 |height note= |wing area sqm=21.8 |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg=2180 |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=5291 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg=2490 |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general=

|eng1 number=2 |eng1 name=Lycoming GO-480-B1A6 |eng1 type=geared horizontally-opposed piston engines |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=270 |eng1 note= |power original=

|prop blade number=3 |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=290 |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |max speed mach= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh=24 |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km=400 |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |combat range km= |combat range miles= |combat range nmi= |combat range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range miles= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling m=6500 |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |fuel consumption kg/km= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass=

|more performance=

|avionics=

References

;Notes ;Bibliography

• Winchester, Jim, ed. Aviation Factfile: Concept Aircraft. San Diego, CA: Thunder Bay Press.

References

1. Goebel, Greg. {{usurped
2. McDowell, Jason. (2022-05-10). "Dornier's Do-29 Broke Ground in STOL Before It Was Fashionable".
3. Luftwaffe: [http://www.geschichte.luftwaffe.de/portal/a/geschlw/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLNwyL93AOAslB2X76kRii7l5OSKJBKan63vq-Hvm5qfoB-gW5oRHljo6KAFoN6Jk!/delta/base64xml/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS80SVVFLzZfMVZfSEhP?yw_contentURL=/01DB060000000001/W26MFN7A256INFODE/content.jsp Projekte: Do 29]. In: ''Geschichte der Luftwaffe.'' Bundeswehr. Accessed 2009-06-15.
4. Winchester 2005, pp. 84-85.
5. Green 1960 p.90-1

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::