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The new stub wing up close
the main wing, and the added horse- power of the second engine, the Do.28 succeeded in increasing payload by approximately 700 pounds above that of the Do.27, while retaining similar STOL capabilities.
Dornier produced 60 Do. 28A-1’s before introducing the Do.28B-1 in 1963. Coincidentally, 60 B-1s were made, too, with production ending in 1966. They served in various ci- vilian and military roles similar to the Do.27, ranging from bush fly- ing in the heat of Africa to the cold of Greenland to covert hauling for “Air America.” In 1966, the Do.28D Skyservant was tested, and produc- tion began in 1967. But, the re-use of the Do.28 designation is wildly misleading, as the D-models have essentially no commonalities with the A/B outside of their similarly unconventional configuration. The Skyservant was a clean sheet design of a much larger aircraft rather than a Do.28A/B refinement.
Tale of Two Island Hoppers
The Red One: Serial #3012 (pro- duction #11) was built in 1961 and briefly registered in Germany. Within a year, it was re-registered as OY-ALL and was hauling supplies to remote mining sites in Greenland for its Danish owners. The bright red color scheme enhanced its visibility in that
12 • TWIN & TURBINE / April 2023
hazardous role while f lying between Edinburgh, Scotland, and the Faroe Islands on iceberg patrols and search and rescue missions. In those days, it landed on wheel-penetration skis. In 1983, it entered service with the Isle Royale Seaplane Service, which was contracted to transport tourists between Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Isle Royale National Park, far out into Lake Superior. In that role,
“Ruby” (as she is now affectionately referred to by her owner) was mount- ed on straight floats. She labored as an island hopper for 18 years until 2001, when the service was grounded after 9/11 and Ruby (still on floats) was pushed into the back of a Sha- wano, WI hangar, where she would collect dust for the next 20 years.
The Green One: Serial #3023 (pro- duction #22) was also built in 1961 and is believed to have flown either for the German Police or a small air- line. In 1980, it was overhauled by Dornier and then joined the Paramili- tary Force of Lesotho, Africa. It was grounded there in 1982 with engine issues and didn’t return to flight for a decade, by which time it resided in California. In 1993, it was wrecked and rebuilt using parts from a Do.28A that had tangled with a UH-1 Huey helicopter. It returned to f light status in 1995 and was quickly sold to Isle Royale Seaplane Services and moved to Wisconsin. They parked it as 1996 ended, with plans to eventually con- vert it to a floatplane and incorporate it into their existing fleet of four Do. 28’s. But that didn’t happen. It sat until joined by its Isle Royale sister ships just as 9/11 abruptly ended the planes’ operations.