In terms of civil sales the 228 series has been Dornier's most successful postwar design, with orders now in the region of 230.
The Dornier 228 incorporates the fuselage cross section of the earlier Do 28 and 128 combined with an all new high technology supercritical wing and TPE331 turboprops. Two fuselage length versions, the 100 and 200, were developed concurrently, the 100 offering better range, the 200 more payload. The 100 was the first to fly taking to the skies for the first time on March 28 1981, the first 200 followed on May 9 that year. The first 228 entered service in August 1982.
Composites were used in a number of secondary structure areas on the 228 including upper wing skins, nose and tail.