The Dornier Do 27 is a high-wing aircraft designed for operation on unpaved runways. The aircraft has a wingspan of 12 meters and is powered by a six-cylinder boxer engine, which gives it a maximum speed of around 210 km/h and a range of around 900 kilometres. A key feature of the Do 27 is its tri-flap wing, which has two split landing flaps and one aileron per wing half. Added to this is the rigid slat, which significantly improves the STOL characteristics by optimising both lift and control at low speeds. This enables shorter take-off and landing distances.

Another historically significant model of the Do 27 was the “Zebra Dornier” by Dr Bernhard Grzimek, known from the television series “A Place for Animals”. This Do 27 had striking black and white stripes, similar to a zebra, and was used in Africa for animal stories and conservation flights. Grzimek’s use of the Do 27 helped the aircraft to achieve worldwide fame and underlined its ability to operate effectively in remote and difficult areas.

The D-EGAO is therefore both a technical masterpiece and also a symbol of the innovative power of the Dornier factories and the versatility of the Do 27 aircraft. It was used both for military liaison flights and light transport tasks and for civilian medical evacuations, passenger and cargo transportation as well as for geographical and meteorological reconnaissance. Their robust and reliable STOL characteristics made them particularly useful for missions in remote and inaccessible regions. (Minimum flight speed: 54 km/h).

Today, the D-EGAO, the last Do 27 built, is often seen at air shows and museums, where it is admired as an important piece of German aviation history and an example of engineering excellence. It represents the legacy of the Dornier Do 27 series and remains a symbol of reliability, versatility, and technological innovation.