Dowty and the Do.31

Abstract

NOW under construction in West Germany are two prototypes of the Do.31E tactical V/STOL transport which utilizes a combination of deflected thrust and direct lift power. The Do.31E features a high wing, a pressurized fuselage of circular section and a tailplane set in a mid position on the highly swept fin. Primary power plants are two Bristol Siddeley Pegasus 5 vectored thrust engines situated in underwing nacelles. In addition, the aircraft has two groups of four Rolls‐Royce RB.162 lift jets positioned in wing tip pods. The tricycle landing gear takes the form of a twin‐wheel nose gear and a twin‐wheel main gear—the two units of the main gear retracting into the Pegasus engine nacelles.