An event called "Spirit of Cologne" was held May 20th/21st 2005. The Cologne/Bonn airport, Lufthansa and the carnival society "Luftflotte" celebrated their 80th anniversaries.
The highlight was the landing of the Dornier Do-24ATT on the Rhein on Saturday around 1600 coming from the ILA 2006 in Berlin Schoenefeld. After several approaches the landing was carried out between Zoo Bridge and Hohenzollernbridge despite the bad and stormy weather. Four employees of the THW (Technisches Hilfswerk) fall into the Rhein while trying to bring the plane to the shore.
After this was achieved Fritz Schramma (Mayor of Cologne), Eric Bock (Head of the carnival society "Luftflotte" and Michael Garvens (Manager of Cologne Airport) left the historical sea plane. Pilot was Iren Dornier, grand son of Dr. Claude Dornier who in the 1930s made a landing on the same part of the Rhein with the Dornier X.
Until 1971 this Do-24 flew in Spain when it was brought back to Germany by the Dornier Company and modified into an amphibian technology carrier and served the company till 1992. After that it was on display in the aviation museum in Oberschleissheim. In 2003 Iren Dornier brought the plane to the Philippines to bring it back to flying conditions. At the moment it is, equipped with modern technology, on its second part of its tour around the world. This takes place in connection with welfares activities of the UNICEF.
The aircraft left Cologne around 1700 with destination Italy.
Technical data:
Length: 21.95m
Width: 3.00
Height: 6.68m
Wingspan: 30.00m
Speed: 340km/h
Powered by: 3 Pratt & Whitney with each 1.125 horse power
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