08/31/2007. The Do 29 was sponsored by the Bundesministerium der
Verteidigung (German Federal Ministry of Defense) to investigate
various STOL/VTOL problems, as well as various engine installations.
It was developed jointly by Dornier and the Deutsche Versuchsanstalt
für Luftfahrt (German Aviation Laboratory).
The Do 29 was based on the Do 27 airframe and powered by two 270 hp
Lycomoing GO-480-B1A6 engines under the wing, driving three-bladed
pusher-propellers. The rear portion of the engine nacelles could
rotate, so that the propeller shaft could be inclined 90º downward to
provide a vertical thrust component during take-off and landing. The
new fuselage nose had a glazed cockpit were the pilot was seated on a
Martin Baker ejection seat.
Three airframes were built, but only the first two have been flown,
coded YD+101, YD+102, the first flight was made on December 12, 1958.
The second was lost in a crash, while the third was never finished.
YD+101 is preserved at the German Air Force museum in Gatow.
