The Mystery Airplane

Professor Claude Dornier was known during World War I for his work with stressed skin Duralumin construction, designing large flying boats and other combat aircraft, including the experimental D-1 all metal single-seat fighter. Post-war he continued designs of all metal flying boats like the famous "Wal" series, production taking place in Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, and Japan to avoid the Versailles Treaty and Allied Control Commission. During World War II, Dornier production focused on the Do-18 and Do-24 flying boats and the Do-17, Do-215, and Do-217 bombers. The exotic Do-335 twin-engined fighter was too late to have impact on the conflict.

Once again, the end of the war forced the Dornier company to continue design outside Germany. The Do-25, a light single-engined high wing STOL monoplane, was designed in Madrid. It was developed into the Do-27, which was produced in military and civilian form. An enlarged twin Lycoming engined model, the Do-28 first flew on 29 April 1959. It was produced as the Do-28A and Do-28B, with some converted to twin floats for the American market. Altogether, 102 Do-28s were produced. Military use of the Do-28 included Spain, Germany, Nigeria, Turkey, and Israel. Air America operated examples in Southeast Asia, wearing a variety of national registrations.

N12828, appearing in this Oshkosh 2018 photo, was delivered in December 1961 as D-IBEG to Air Lloyd. It was sold to the Lesotho Government for police work, before returning to Europe as G-BNVW with Wessex Aviation in the UK in 1987. It came to the United States as N12828 in 1991 and is currently listed by the FAA registered to Fulwiler Air LLC of Green Bay.

Not as tough as I thought, a dozen readers correctly identified the Do-28A, with Andrew Wall, the Airport Manager at South St. Paul, Fleming Field, winning this round. He also sent a photo of N12828 resting on the KSGS ramp last fall!

Is it spring? Blue skies and fair winds.