Der PhönixIn 1964, the Reno Air Races were established. These feature multi-lap, multi-aircraft races among extremely high-performance aircraft on closed ovoid courses. The most well known and arguably exciting of these are those withing the Unlimited class, which consists almost entirely of modified and stock World War II fighters, routinely reach speeds in excess of 400mph (644 km/h). For the first few years, this class was dominated by former allied aircraft including the likes of P-51s, Grumman Bearcats and Hawker Sea Furies. In 1970 though, that would all change with the surprise announcement that a former German design was going to be entered.
A result of collaboration between multiple German aerospace companies such as Dornier Flugzeugbau GmbH, Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) and Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke (VFW), this was part of a general move being made to promote German aerospace prowess. One avenue for this was to use the Reno racing as an equivalent to the way Formula one motor racing was used for promoting automotive capabilities. The focus tor this promotion would be arguably one of the most unique aircraft to be developed during WWII and a contender for being the fastest piston engine fighter to have come from the war, the Dornier Do335.
The result of many years work, the aircraft in question was the heavily rebuilt Dornier 335 V9. This aircraft was one of the prototype aircraft originally developed by Dornier. On 26 April 1945, Fliegerstabsing. Heinz Fischer had managed to fly this from Rechlin to Switzerland. Upon arrival, it had been tested by the Swiss Air Force before being placed in storage and largely forgotten as focus turned to jet aircraft. In the early 1960s, Claudius Dornier Jr. had become aware of its existence and had made moves to purchase it, arguably for restoration and display in a museum. This offer was accepted and over the next few years the aircraft was worked upon in Dornier’s operations in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, including by many employees who had worked on the airplane originally during the war. Not only was the aircraft itself being restored to flying condition, but a series of DB 603 engines, 12 in total, were also fully restored/rebuilt with modifications for them to provide high performance in race conditions.
The resulting race Do335, resplendent in highly polished black and gold scheme, was presented to Clause Dornier shortly before his death in late 1969. A year later it would reappear, now bearing the name “Phönix” (Phoenix), in Reno. People were excited to see how it would perform. With all wartime features and unnecessary weight removed, wings clipped for low level flight, modified cockpit canopy and with two big DB603 engines tuned to provide a purported 3458 hp each at sea level, it was truly a beast towering over the other competing aircraft. In the races it would dominate as well. Being flown by MBB Test Pilot Neils Meister, it would win the unlimited class in its first year with a speed of 507mph (816km/h). To see such a large aircraft going so fast at low level was truly a breathtaking thing to witness.
For the next three years it would continue to fly and win races. After this, it was deemed that it had served its purpose and the decision was made to retire the Phoenix. It was placed on display at the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany. Later in 2009 it was moved to Dornier Museum Friedrichshafen in the German town of Friederichshafen where it may be seen today.
