Forget Runways, This Cargo Hauler Takes Off Straight Up! : Dornier Do 31

The Dornier Do 31 was an experimental German aircraft developed during the 1960s, allowing it to take off and land vertically like a helicopter. This Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) capability, along with its ability to transition to conventional forward flight, made the Do 31 a pioneering aircraft in the field of vertical flight. Designed by Dornier Flugzeugwerke, the Do 31 aimed to serve as a military transport aircraft, capable of carrying troops or cargo.

[@williamzk9083]

-This was more a test bed with production units expected to get rid of the wing tip pods in favor of 4 RB-153.
One of the advances made by the German VTOL program Do 31, VJ-101 and VAK-191 was the use o fFly By Wire and a Gyroscopic autopilot to handle hovering and the transition between -hovering and forward flight. (The harrier was purely mechanical).
-I do wonder what the mission profile was to be. It clearly was almost as big as a chinnook (3 squads, a whole platoon) and would have had about 3 times the speed and range of a helicopter. So it would be hard to shoot down and be able to run more trips but what was its purpose to be?

[@failedAir]

The combination of VTOL capability and enhanced speed and range would make it suitable for various mission scenarios, including special operations, rapid deployment of troops, and logistical support in challenging environments.

[@javierrflores]

Great content!