[leeG]

If anyone wants to see a Dornier Do-335A-1 Pfeil, the Smithsonian NASM Uvar-Hazy Center just south of Washington Dulles International Airport has one on display.

[Cardinal]

I read somewhere that when this (I think it was this one) was being restored in Germany by some of the original engineers (circa. 1960s/1970s?), they found the original explosive bolts, that were apparently designed to facilitate ejection/blow tail off (aircaft tail ), still active!

[fileasfog]

I just bought it and I find it totaly fascinating. I never thought I would like this plane, but here it is.
I cant however manage to make it hold on its trycicle landing gear without it tilting backwards. It seems to be heavy in the back.
How did you guys solve this problem?

thanks

[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by fileasfog

I just bought it and I find it totaly fascinating. I never thought I would like this plane, but here it is.
I cant however manage to make it hold on its trycicle landing gear without it tilting backwards. It seems to be heavy in the back.
How did you guys solve this problem?

thanks

Fileasfog, make certain that the landing gear is not inserted 'back to front' - the Do335 is not usually a 'tail-sitter'.

[djjeffhall]

Cardinal,
Hey there.

RE: Explosives - I read the same thing on line. They shipped the plane back to Germany, and when it was being restored they found the explosives still rigged and live. Of course, I heard the exact same story from one of the docents at the Garber Facility about their FW-190 when I was taking atour back in the 1980's so who knows?

[leeG]

The Smithsonian's website has a nice little writeup on it. True about the exploding bolts.

http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero...nier_do335.htm

[pulqui]

Originally Posted by Cardinal

I read somewhere that when this (I think it was this one) was being restored in Germany by some of the original engineers (circa. 1960s/1970s?), they found the original explosive bolts, that were apparently designed to facilitate ejection/blow tail off (aircaft tail ), still active!

This is the only one left. I had a chance to inspect it when freshly restored in 1980 at Dornier's Overpfaffenhofen airfield. HUGE and very impressive. I believe it is the first operational aircraft to be equipped with an ejector seat (compressed air propelled).

[fileasfog]

I solved my problem, I had inverted the undercarriage

[jim]

Originally Posted by pulqui

This is the only one left. I had a chance to inspect it when freshly restored in 1980 at Dornier's Overpfaffenhofen airfield. HUGE and very impressive. I believe it is the first operational aircraft to be equipped with an ejector seat (compressed air propelled).

There is another being rebuilt in Germany,

[flyXwire]

Originally Posted by jim

There is another being rebuilt in Germany,

Yeah , I recall it was even featured article in one issue of FlyPast magazine!