There’s a particular kind of magic to aircraft that were never meant for airports. No jetways, no ground crew with light wands, no ILS. Just a patch of firm ground, a capable engine, and a pilot who knows what they’re doing. The Dornier Do 27 is exactly that kind of aircraft, and it’s now in Microsoft Flight Simulator thanks to Aviación Española.
The release covers the Do 27 A-5 in four variants: standard, bush, floatplane, and ski-equipped. It’s compatible with both MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024, though the developer notes that some MSFS 2024-exclusive features are not yet implemented, and will be evaluated for future updates.
An aircraft with a genuinely fascinating history
The Do 27 carries a story worth knowing before you even load into the sim. It was the first mass-produced aircraft in Germany following the end of the Second World War, and its origins are tied directly to Spain. Dornier had established a technical office in Madrid in January 1951, and the Do 27’s predecessor, the Do 25, was developed there in response to a Spanish military requirement for a light utility aircraft with STOL performance. The original prototype flew for the first time in Spain on 27 June 1955, and a total of 40 aircraft were later manufactured there by CASA, under the designation CASA-127.
The German Bundeswehr quickly took to the type, drawn in by its ability to operate from compact and unprepared airstrips. In Spain, 50 Do 27s were built under licence from 1958 onwards. Portugal also became a significant operator, receiving 40 new-build and 106 ex-German examples, and the Portuguese Air Force made extensive operational use of the type during the Portuguese Overseas War from 1961 to 1975. All of this history feeds directly into the livery selection included in this package.
What the package includes
Aviación Española describes the package as featuring a high-fidelity 3D model with PBR materials and full animations, a fully functional cockpit, and flight dynamics tuned for STOL performance based on real-world data. The developer says the systems are built to reflect the mechanical and operational character of the real aircraft, covering engine behavior and procedures in demanding conditions.
The 26 included liveries span military and civilian schemes from Germany, Spain, Sweden, Portugal and Switzerland, with the iconic D-ENTE among them. A custom sound set and a pilot’s manual are also part of the package.
Sadly, the official product images on SimMarket are quite blurry and don’t seem to make justice to the product, but this thread on the official MSFS forums has better images taken from early users. Also, initial feedback is very positive, despite a few shortcomings.
A developer building a niche
This is Aviación Española’s second release for MSFS. Their first was the Hispano Aviación HA-200 “Saeta,” a Spanish military jet trainer from the 1950s, which was the first Spanish jet aircraft and the first to be exported by Spain. Clearly, as the name itself implies, this is a developer with a focus on historical Spanish and Spanish-connected aviation.
The Do 27 / CASA C-127 is available now on simMarket, priced at € 18.45.
