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| The Wal all-metal flying-boat was a direct development of the Gs I of 1919 (which was broken-up) and the uncompleted Gs II. The prototype flew on 6 November 1922. Because of the Allied ban on German construction of this class of aeroplane, production was undertaken by GMASA in Italy with the first aircraft completed in 1923.
The Wal had a broad-beam two-step hull, strut-braced untapered parasol wing, sponsons, single fin and rudder and two engines in tandem above the centre section. Passenger, mail-carrier and military versions were produced with a wide range of engines of 223.6-559kW. There were four different wing spans and the maximum weight grew from about 4,000kg to 10,000kg. Wals were also built by Piaggio and in Japan, the Netherlands and Spain, and later in Germany. About 300 were built before production ceased in the mid-1930s.
Wals pioneered air services in South America, were widely used in the Mediterranean (with eight-ten seats) and, operating from depot ships, established Luft-Hansa's South Atlantic mail services.
| CREW | 2-4 |
| PASSENGERS | 10-12 |
| ENGINE | 2 x RR 1928, 265kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 4100 kg | 9039 lb |
| Empty weight | 2720 kg | 5997 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 26.5 m | 87 ft 11 in |
| Length | 16.2 m | 53 ft 2 in |
| Height | 4.7 m | 15 ft 5 in |
| Wing area | 96.0 m2 | 1033.33 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 180 km/h | 112 mph |
| Cruise speed | 150 km/h | 93 mph |
| Ceiling | 3500 m | 11500 ft |
| Range w/max.fuel | 3600 km | 2237 miles |
| chrisonsite, e-mail, 08.01.2013 15:50 Locatelli's Wal was scuttled after his rescue by USS Richmond on Aug 24th 1924 off the coast of Iceland. The exact position would have been recorded in the Richmond's ships log[now available on line?]. Further research may come up with its seabed position. reply | | Juliedson, e-mail, 21.10.2011 02:17 The Wal was the first aicraft of the great Brazilian air company VARIG. It was founded in 1927 by a German immigrant, Otto Ernst Meyer. The company flew the Wal tail code P-BAAA, called "Atlantico" for the first few years. reply | | beiguo, 18.06.2011 12:23 The worldwide history of this forgotten flying boat is described in my book: reply | | Barry, 14.09.2010 18:16 The DoJ Wal was initially powered by a pair of Hispano Suiza engines this model was in fact known as the "Kas". The next model was powered by 2 Rolls Royce Eagle engines, and susequent to that many other power plants were used including, Renault, Farman, Napier Lion V, Isotta Franchini, Curtis Conqueror and BMW.
There were two improved models the 19 passenger Do R2 Superwal(3 models built Werk Nos: 118, 147 and148)and the four engined Do R4 Superwal. There were 16 Do4's built in four different types powered by Gnome Rhone Jupiter, Napier Lion V, Siemens Jupiter VI and Pratt & Whitney Hornet engines. reply | |
| | M.Michiel van der Mey, e-mail, 09.01.2010 12:21 A possible salvage would be prohibitive, but the result in a museum would be priceless ! On my website I describe in German the accident of the Dornier Wal "Hecht" (pike) in the Baltic.The English version of the incident will come in the third edition of my book "Dornier Wal a Light coming over the Sea" reply | | M.Michiel van der Mey, e-mail, 27.09.2009 09:31 Dear aviation friends,
There is one (boat) aircraft left. This is the "Plus Ultra" with which the Spanish pilot Ramon Franco crossed the South Atlantic in 1926. More information about all the pioneer flights and the worldwide history of this boat (aircraft) can only be found in my book, "Dornier Wal a Light coming over the Sea" reply | | M.Michiel van der Mey, e-mail, 30.01.2009 08:26 Interested aviation friends are invited to visit:
www.dornier-wal.com
The worldwide history of this forgotten flying boat is described in my book:
Dornier Wal a Light coming over the Sea reply | | chris, e-mail, 05.05.2007 16:28 How many still exist? What wouold the value of one if recovered from the sea? reply |
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