In Vintage Aircraft Parking at this week’s SUN ‘n FUN is an odd looking twin-engine taildragger that — in just the few minutes I was chatting with owner Eric Hayes from Mobile, Ala. — elicited a great many “oohs,” “ahhs,” and “what is its?” It’s a 1965 Dornier Do 28 B1.
“The plane is a handful to fly,” admitted Hayes.
The tailwheel isn’t steerable and doesn’t lock, so getting started requires a dance on the rudder pedals. On the 45-foot wing are flaps that drop to 55° and flaperons. The Lycoming IO-540s have no mufflers.
Only 60 “B” models were made, so the DO 28 is a pretty rare model.
“It’s got a 6,000-pound gross and the useful load is a little more than the empty weight, which is really cool,” for a plane that cruises at 150 knots, said Hayes.
I logged 575 hours in the Do-28A model while with Air America in the early 1960’s.
It was nice to fly with both engines operating and a real dog on one. Very underpowered.