The Dornier Do 17, is a twin-engine light bomber produced by Dornier Flugzeugwerke for the German Luftwaffe during World War II.
Designed in the early 1930s as a Schnellbomber intended to be fast enough to outrun opposing aircraft, the lightly built craft had a twin tail and “shoulder wing”.
Sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift, it was popular among its crews due to its handling, especially at low altitude, which made the Do 17 harder to hit than other German bombers.
The Do 17 made its combat debut in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War, operating in the Condor Legion in various roles.
Along with the Heinkel He 111 it was the main bomber type of the German air arm in 1939–1940.
The Dornier was used throughout the early war, and saw action in significant numbers in every major campaign theatre as a front line aircraft until the end of 1941, when its effectiveness and usage was curtailed as its bomb load and range were limited.
Variants
Do 17E-1
Developed from the 9th prototype.
Spotted a shortened glazed nose and carried 500 kg of bombs.
Do 17F-1
Photographic reconnaissance aircraft with two cameras and increased fuel capacity.
Do 17K, Kb-1, Ka-2 & Ka-3
The Do 17K was developed for use by Yugoslavia and was similar to the Do 17M but powered by two 980 hp Gnome-Rhône 14N 01/02 engines.
This type was licensed and built by Drzavna Fabrika Aviona at Kraljevo.
The Do 17Kb-1 was a bomber and the Do 17Ka-2/Ka-3 were reconnaissance aircraft with secondary capabilities as a bomber or attack aircraft.
Do 17L
Two prototypes of a proposed pathfinder version powered by two 900 hp Bramo 323A-1 engines.
Do 17M & M-1
The 13th and 14th prototypes powered by Bramo 322A-1 engines.
This version was used to develop the airframe/engine combination for use on the production Do 17M-1, which could carry a 1000 kg bomb load and was armed with three 7.92 mm MG 15 machine guns, in the dorsal and ventral positions and one firing through the starboard windscreen.
Do 17R
Two engine test beds, one with two 950 hp Daimler-Benz DB 600G and the other with 1000 hp Daimler-Benz DB 601A.
Do17P
A photo reconnaissance version of the Do 17M, which was powered by two 875 hp BMW 132N engines and fitted with Rb 20/30 and Rb 50/30, or Rb 20/8 and Rb 50/8 cameras in the Do 17P-1 series.
Do 17S-0
Three DB 600G powered high speed reconnaissance aircraft for trials with a prone gunners position in the underside of the forward fuselage, housing an aft firing MG 15 machine gun.
The nose was extensively glazed.
Do 17U, U-0 & U-1
15 aircraft were built to this standard as pathfinders, carrying two radio operators among the five man crew.
Do 17Z, Z-0, Z-1, Z-2, Z-3, Z-4 & Z-5
The Do 17Z was the most numerous version built with some 1700 of them being built between 1939 and 1940.
Several variants were built.
The Do 17Z-0 was similar to the Do 17S with two 900 hp Bramo 323A-1 engines and armed with three MG 15 machine guns.
The Do 17Z-1 had an additional nose mounted MG 15 machine gun but was underpowered and only able to carry a 500 kg bombload.
In the Do 17Z-2, the Bramo 323A-1 engines were changed out in favour of the 1000 hp Bramo 323P engines which restored the bomb load up to 1000 kg, and carried up to eight MG 15 machine guns.
22 Do 17Z-3 aircraft were produced for photo reconnaissance duties, with Rb 50/30 or Rb 20/30 cameras.
The Do 17Z-4 was a dual control conversion trainer.
The Do 17Z-5 was essentially a Do 17Z-2 with flotation bags in the fuselage and the rear of the engine bays.
Do 17Z-6 Kauz I
A single aircraft produced as a long range intruder and night fighter.
Incorporated a Junkers Ju 88C-2 nose carrying a 20 mm MG FF cannon and three MG 17 machine guns.
Do 17Z-10 Kauz II
Nine aircraft with a new nose housing four 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns and four 20 mm MG FF cannon.
Specifications
Crew
4
Length
15.8 m (51 ft 10 in)
Wingspan
18 m (59 ft 1 in)
Height
4.56 m (15 ft 0 in)
Empty weight
5,210 kg (11,486 lb)
Empty equipped
5,888 to 5,963 kg (12,981 to 13,146 lb)
Max take-off weight
8,837 kg (19,482 lb)
Fuel capacity
Standard fuel 1,540 l (339 imp gal), with aux tank in forward bomb bay 2,435 l (536 imp gal)
Powerplant
2 × Bramo 323P 9-cyl. air-cooled radial piston engines with 1,000 PS (986 hp, 736 kW) for take-off
Propellers
3-bladed variable-pitch propellers
Performance
Maximum speed
350 km/h (220 mph, 190 kn) at 8,040 kg (17,725 lb) at sea level
410 km/h (255 mph) at 8,040 kg (17,725 lb) at 5,000 m (16,404 ft)
Cruise speed
300 km/h (190 mph, 160 kn) at 8,837 kg (19,482 lb) at 4,000 m (13,123 ft)
Combat range
660 km (410 mi, 360 nmi) with 1,540 l (339 imp gal) fuel and 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) of bombs
1,010 km (628 mi) with 2,435 l (536 imp gal) fuel and 500 kg (1,102 lb) of bombs
Service ceiling
8,200 m (26,900 ft)
Wing loading
156 kg/m2 (32 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass
0.170 kW/kg (0.11 hp/lb)
Armament
Guns
6 × 7.92 mm (0.312 in) MG 15 machine guns in front upper/lower, rear upper/lower and beam positions (all firing from cockpit area)
Bombs
1,000 kg (2,205 lb) of bombs carried internally, either 20 x 50 kg (110 lb) bombs or 4 x 250 kg (551 lb) bombs.
