Vtol Transport

Dornier Do 31 was a western pilot VTOL transport system constructed by Dornier. Do 31 was developed to comply with a NATO NBMR-4 requirement for a military back-up combat vehicle for the EEA VJ 101 VTOL combat plane developed by BMR-3 under the NATO Treaty. Once the high costs, engineering and logistic problems were recognised, the Luftwaffe stopped testing VTOL planes such as the Do 31, VJ101 and the later VFW VAK 191B, which led to the cessation of these plans and restricted their further use for research purpose.

First drafts included a Bristol Pegasus[Note 1] vector turbocharger in each of the two inner gondolas and four Rolls-Royce RB162 thrusters in each of the outboard gondolas. The plan was to do without the external gondolas and their power units when bigger fans of turbo jets were available (with approx. 5,000 litres of 22 kN thrust).

Installing the motors in gondolas could give the hull a generous support with a back dock. I1 was only driven by the Pegasus power units and was developed for testing horizontally. Both Pegasus and RB162 buoyancy motors were fitted to the unit and the unit was developed to test flying in perpendicular flying modes.

On 10 February 1967, the first ever Pegasus engine powered the first ever test aircraft (E1). In July 1967, the third prototyp (E3) was flown with all ten motors. In December 1967, full forward and reverse transfers were made. This was the first and so far only false ceiling ever made.

Among the reasons for the cancellations was the high resistance and low load capacity of the hoods, which reduces load capacity and reach in comparison to traditional transporters. Rolls-Royce had taken over the Bristol Engines on the first mission. FAI Record ID #5536 - Velocity over a recognised course, Munich - Paris.

Fédération Aéronautique International Record Date 27 May 1969. FAI Record ID #1515153 - Velocity, Munich - Paris. Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Record date 27 May 1969 ^ "FAI Record ID #1515151 - Altitude, Munich - Paris. Fédération Aéronautique International Record Date 27 May 1969.

FAI Record ID #15152 - Duration, Munich - Paris. Category A ("VTOL aircraft")". International Record Date 27 May 1969. FAI Record ID #6370 - Distance, Munich - Paris. Category A ("VTOL aircraft")". International Record Date 27 May 1969. Aeroplane Observer's Book.