Dornier Do 31

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The Dornier Do 31 is an experimental, jet-propelled, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) cargo aircraft that was designed and produced by West German aircraft manufacturer Dornier. The development of the Do 31 was motivated principally by heavy interest expressed by the German Air Force in the acquisition of short take-off and vertical landing aircraft (STOVL)-capable aircraft. Such ambitions received a further boost from the issuing of NATO specification NBMR-4, which called for a VTOL-capable tactical support aircraft that would be operated in conjunction with the EWR VJ 101, a West German VTOL strike aircraft designed under the NATO contract of BMR-3. A total of three aircraft, two flight-capable and one static airframe, were constructed and used for testing. On 10 February 1967, the Do 31 performed its maiden flight; the first hovering flight of the type took place during July 1967. In addition to performing test flights, Dornier often demonstrated the Do 31 prototypes to officials...

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