Germany’s last Do128 retired

The last airworthy Dornier Do128 in Germany, D-IBUF, was retired on 17 October 2021 after 35 years of flying as a research aircraft for the Technische Universität (Technical University) Braunschweig.

The aircraft produced by Dornier as a Do128-6, was one of the last flying examples of the type, of which not more than 30 examples were built. The Do128 was a turboprop engined evolution of the earlier piston engine Do28. These were more successful, with some 120 built of the Do28A and B versions, and 226 of the larger Do28D Skyservant.

Fortunately, the Technische Universität Braunschweig has found a good home for D-IBUF. The research aircraft will be displayed at the Deutsche Museum in Oberschleißheim, north of Munich.

It is the second time, the University donates an aircraft to a museum: the predecessor of D-IBUF, a Dornier Do28D, D-IBSW, found its way to the Aircraft Museum Wernigerode, 35 years ago.

As a replacement for D-IBUF, the Technische Universität Braunschweig has bought a Reims-Cessna F406 Caravan II with the appropriate registration D-ILAB.

Source: Aviation Media
Photo: Uwe Bethke of Luftfahrt Club Braunschweig