The Dornier D torpedo bomber first prototype with 360 hp Rolls-Royce Eagle IX 12-cyl vee engine and underside extension to the rudder to improve its effectiveness in counter-balancing the side area of the floats.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924

Head-on view of the first Dornier D shows the wide straddle created by the faired float supports and the greater angle of the wing struts produced by their attachment low down on the float struts instead of on the fuselage.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924

This photo of the record breaker taking off was used as a heading with the publicity after the event and shows the radiator on this side close behind the engine, but the date of the photo is not given.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924

6 апреля 1936г.: "Luft-Hansa" начала выполнять регулярные рейсы на самолетах Dornier Komet III между Берлином, Галле, Эрфуртом, Штутгартом и Цюрихом.
Dornier Komet III D-585 Puma takes aboard passengers at Berlin-Tempelhof for the first scheduled Lufthansa flight on April 6, 1926. Note the uniformed "cabin-boy” holding the door open.
C/n 74, D580, features in a number of Lufthansa publicity photos. Here, as a B Ral Komet III it is said to be inaugurating the Berlin - Halle - Erfurt - Stuttgart - Zurich route on 6.4.26 with pilot and passengers posing for the occasion.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924

Merkur c/n 77 was CH-142 with Ad Astra Aero in Switzerland. The chin radiator for the 640 hp BMW VI 12-cyl water-cooled vee is prominent, in a very accessible position for cleaning and servicing.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924

Dornier B Bas P-BAAB c/n 92 of the Brazilian airline Varig lacks the wing centresection cutout of the Merkur but has a prominent extended rudder as required on a floatplane.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924

Komet III CH-173 "Mercurio" c/n 93 was an ambulance designed to load two stretcher cases through the right side with a further four seats for walking cases and attendants. It is seen with a stretcher loaded and the door still open.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924

A line-up of four B Ral Komet IIIs of the Ukrainian airline Ukrvozdukhput' including RRUAG (c/n 67), RRUAL (79), RRUAN (82) and one other

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924

In its final form the BMW prototype has the float support struts with four separate fairings but how this affected the performance is not known. A link-tab trimmer was fitted on the rudder and the propeller had now changed to a 2-blader.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924

The second Dornier D had the 600 hp BMW VI with radiators on the fuselage side just behind the front wing struts. The float support struts fairing is widened with steps at the front for access. The tail unit has been redesigned with greater area fin and rudder.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924

The first D showing the Rolls-Royce tall frontal radiator and the 4-blade propeller formed by two 2-bladers crossed at right angles. The long side exhaust extends past the open cockpit.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924

The second D with BMW VI was used for record breaking and is seen here with the pilots concerned, Zinsmaier and Wagner. The records were good publicity and must have influenced sales of the Merkur.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924

The Dornier D taking off in its final form now has an extra circular window in the aft cabin, probably for the benefit of a crew member in its general duties form, however there were no orders for this version.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924

Merkur c/n 121 СССР-Л740 of GVF seen here with engine cowling raised and freight being loaded.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924

Merkur D-1102 c/n 87 "Edelmarder" (Pine Marten) of DLH. Although otherwise standard, the BMW VI engine installation has a lengthened exhaust pipe and changes to fuel delivery pipes. A winddriven generator is mounted on the rear fuselage. A tube fitted to the wingtips of this and a number of other aircraft may have been intended to indicate yaw to the pilot but whatever the purpose they were soon discarded.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924

An early view of c/n 76 as D597 with Aero Lloyd, presumably in 1925

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924

D-774 c/n 83 late in its career with the DVS has a hyphen in the registration and a swastika on the fin.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Dornier Merkur / Komet III - ГерманияGermany - 1924