The Do 12 was a high-wing
monoplane, of usual Dornier all-metal construction, with a two-
spar, trapezoidal wing, whose
trailing edge was very strongly rounded at the
root. The
fuselage was of rectangular cross-section. A storage area was in the nose, where equipment, including anchors, could be kept. Behind it, the open
cockpit had two side-by-side seats, with optional dual controls. In the
cabin, there were two more seats and a storage area, which could also be fitted with bunks for sleeping. Between the cockpit and cabin were nacelles which accommodated the retracted
undercarriage wheels, a first for Dornier, which were lowered or raised manually by a crank. The engine sat on a stand high above the wing, alongside two
fuel tanks, in
pusher configuration. From the first flight on 23 June 1932, and in the further course of testing, it was obvious that the Argus engine was underpowered, making takeoff distances substantially too long. However, financial difficulties in the company meant that fitting the stronger Gnome-Rhône Titan 5Ke took some time. Father
Paul Schulte, a missionary known as the "Flying Priest", used the Do 12 "D-INEZ" for many years and in his various books it plays an important role. ==Variants==