The progress in Germany during 1910 was not restricted to imitating the French, as some supposed at the time, but included the development of many interesting and distinctive aeroplanes. One of the most successful of these was the Dorner monoplane, which resembled the Pischof more than any other. The weight carried per horse-power and the speed attained were high.
Top Speed: 50 m.p.h.
Engine: four-cylinder 22 horse-power Dorner
Wingspan: 38 feet
Weight: 770 pounds
Specifications from “Monoplanes and Biplanes,” by Grover Loening, 1911
The Frame
A triangular frame, wide and deep at the front, and the lower main member of which is projected out forward, serving as a skid, narrows to a point at the rear. The frame has not many cross wires, since inclined struts are used for giving the required rigidity. The entire length of the machine is 34 feet.
The Main Wing
The main plane is perfectly horizontal and continuous as on the old Bleriot XII. It is rounded at the ends and warpable. The spread is 38 feet, the chord 8 1/4 feet, and the surface area 280 square feet. The plane is braced from a central mast.
The Elevators
The dove-like shaped tail, 60 square feet in area, is very flexible and is bent as on the Grade. The control is by means of a lever in the aviator’s left hand, which when pushed forward bends the tail down and onuses descent and when pulled back causes ascent.
The Direction Rudder
A single flexible 16 square foot surface at the rear over the horizontal tail serves as the direction rudder. It is bent over to either side by means of a lever in the aviator’s right hand.
Roll Control
The main surface is warped by the feet acting on pedals as on some of the latest French biplanes.
Tail
The gracefulness and simplicity of the tail on the Dorner is quite in contrast to the complicated structure on the Fischof, the rudders themselves, when not in use, acting as a stabilizing empennage.
Propulsion
The radiator, and four-cylinder 22 horse-power water-cooled Dorner motor are placed in front of the two seats, all under the lower plane, as on the Bleriot XII. and Pischof. The motor drives by chain a three-bladed wood and metal Dorner propeller, 8.4 feet diameter and 6 1/2 feet pitch, at 670 r.p.m. The propeller is placed on a level with the entering edge of the main plane, at the rear.
Landing Gear
The landing gear is mainly on two rubber-tired wheels, and the main central skid at the front, with also a small skid at the
Weight, Speed, Loading and Aspect Ratio
The speed is 50 miles an hour. The total weight is from 770 to 940 pounds; as much as 39 pounds are carried per horse-power, and 3 per square foot of surface. The aspect ratio is 4.6 to 1.