The Dornier 228 first took to the skies 41 years ago, starting as a short-haul aircraft for airlines. Seating 19 passengers, the plane has become the baseline for many modifications and remains in service in Europe even today. Here's a look at the current users of the Dornier 228.

Still in the skies

According to data from ch-aviation, there are currently 20 examples of the Dornier 228 in European skies, flown by 11 carriers. Three aircraft exclusively serve as demos or testbeds, allowing organizations to test their latest technology and train personnel. The remaining planes continue to fly for military or commercial usage.

If you're hoping for a chance to fly this aircraft, your best hopes rest with Aurigny Air Services in Guernsey and Sevenair in Portgual, which use the planes for short domestic journeys in their respective countries. The former uses two aircraft for flights to Alderney (Channel Islands) and Southampton, while the latter flies one plane to five regional destinations with the Dornier 228 (Vila Real, Braganca, Viseu, Cascais, Portimao).

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With only two commercial operators left, time is running out to fly this historical aircraft. Photo: David Jones via Flickr

Of the remaining nine operators, one is RUAG Aerospace, the firm which worked with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to build the Do 228NG between 2010 and 2020. Currently, the plane remains in production by HAL (since 1985) and General Atomics, with India becoming a significant client for the reengineered Do 228NG variant.

Convenient size

The Do 228s currently in service are primarily for cargo since the small size of the plane allows for operations from all kinds of airports. Arcus Air and Businesswings in Germany both operate two aircraft each to offer rapid cargo transport between hubs. Norwegian provider Lufttransport uses its 228s to fly private charter flights and for the Coast Guard to monitor the environment with specialized equipment.

This wraps up the seven planes in active commercial service, with a few opportunities to fly still available to the enthusiasts. However, most Do 228 usage in Europe comes from militaries and government bodies.

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European militaries continue to rely on the Do 228 for important missions and invest in refitting them routinely. Photo: Defensie via Wikimedia Commons

The German Navy, space research body DLR, Italian Army, Finnish Border Guard, and Dutch Coastguard all each operate two Dornier 228-212s. They fly varying missions, ranging from complex environment monitoring to testbeds for research.

Despite the age of some of the aircraft, ranging from 11.5 to 32 years, their reliability has meant they continue to actively fly even today and don't show signs of retirement soon.

Here to stay

Even 41 years after its first flight, the Do 228 remains in production today. Renamed the 228NG, HAL has been building the aircraft since 1983 and continued after Dornier's production run ended in 1998. For now, expect to keep seeing these planes in the sky for a long time to come as it proves its worth.

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Source: ch-aviation.com