The Dornier Do 18 was one of Germany's most capable long-range flying boats of the 1930s — a graceful, diesel-powered maritime patrol and mail aircraft that pushed the boundaries of oceanic endurance. This structured collection brings together seven original German-language technical manuals covering the Do 18 D and G variants, providing an authoritative reference for historians, restorers, and aviation researchers.

Definitive Collection with Free Lifetime Updates: This is a living collection that we continuously expand and refine. As we acquire additional Dornier Do 18 documentation, technical bulletins, or variant-specific materials, we update this collection and provide free lifetime updates to all purchasers. Your one-time purchase guarantees access to all future additions and improvements to this collection.

Historical Note

Designed as a successor to the legendary Dornier Do J "Wal", the Do 18 first flew in 1935 and entered service with Deutsche Lufthansa for transatlantic mail routes before being adopted by the Luftwaffe for maritime reconnaissance. Its defining characteristic was the tandem push-pull arrangement of two Junkers Jumo 205 opposed-piston diesel engines mounted above the high wing — a configuration that minimized drag and maximized fuel efficiency over the open ocean.

The Jumo 205 was an engineering marvel in its own right: a six-cylinder, liquid-cooled, opposed-piston diesel producing approximately 600 hp per engine, with exceptionally low fuel consumption that gave the Do 18 a range exceeding 3,500 km. The aircraft's metal hull retained the stabilizing sponsons of the Wal lineage, providing strong lateral stability on water without the need for wingtip floats. A total of 168 aircraft were produced — 46 by Dornier and 122 under licence by Weserflug — across several variants including the D (primary production reconnaissance model) and G (improved armament and systems).

The Do 18 saw active service in the early years of World War II, conducting Atlantic patrols and air-sea rescue operations, before being superseded by more capable types. Its legacy endures as one of the most aerodynamically refined flying boats of its era.

Manuals Included in This Collection

Variant D — 4 Manuals

• Do 18 D Aircraft Handbook — Flugzeug-Handbuch (German Language)
• Do 18 D Aircraft Description Manual — Flugzeugbeschreibung (German Language)
• Do 18 D with Jumo 205 Brochure — Prospekt mit JUMO 205 (German Language)
• Do 18 D Illustrated Parts Catalog — Ersatzteilliste (German Language)

Variant G — 2 Manuals

• Do 18 G Armament Operating Instructions — Bedienungsvorschrift-Wa (German Language)
• Do 18 G Fuel Tank System Manual — Betriebstoffbehälter (German Language)

No Variant — 1 Manual

• Dornier Do 18 with BMW 132 Air-Cooled Engines — Dornier Do 18 mit luftgekühlten Motoren BMW 132 (German Language)

Together these seven documents span the aircraft's primary production variants, covering airframe description, systems, armament, fuel installation, illustrated parts, and the alternative BMW 132 radial engine configuration tested on prototype and development aircraft.

Engineering Norms and Standards

The Do 18 was designed and built to Dornier's established marine aircraft engineering practices, incorporating RLM (Reichsluftfahrtministerium) airworthiness and military specifications. The Jumo 205 diesel installation followed Junkers' proprietary opposed-piston engineering norms, with specialized maintenance procedures for the dual-crankshaft configuration, vibration damping systems, and variable-pitch propeller assemblies. The hull and sponson hydrodynamics were validated against Dornier's in-house water tank testing protocols, with the stepped hull geometry optimized for clean water break at approximately 120 km/h.

Format and Delivery

All manuals are delivered as high-resolution digital PDF files, available for instant download immediately after purchase. Files are compatible with all standard PDF readers on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Documents are print-friendly and suitable for workshop or research use. Files are delivered as compressed archives (RAR/ZIP) — you will need a free extraction tool such as WinRAR or 7-Zip (Windows) or The Unarchiver (Mac) to access the PDFs.

Disclaimer

These documents are provided for historical reference and research purposes only. They do not constitute airworthiness guidance and should not be used as the sole basis for any maintenance, repair, or operational decision. All trade names and designations remain the property of their respective owners. Copyright © Sicuro Publishing.