The Dornier Do 217 was a bomber used by the German Luftwaffe during World War II as a more powerful version of the Dornier Do 17, known as the Fliegender Bleistift (German: «flying pencil»). Designed in 1937 and 1938 as a heavy bomber but not meant to be capable of the longer-range missions envisioned for the larger Heinkel He 177, the Do 217s design was refined during 1939 and production began in late 1940. It entered service in early 1941 and by the beginning of 1942 was available in significant numbers.
In June 1940, Dornier produced plans for further development of the Do 217, which would have a pressurized cabin and more powerful engines (DB 604 or Jumo 222) and would be designated the Do 317. The Do 317 was one of the proposals submitted to the RLM for the «Bomber B» project. Two versions of the Do 317 were proposed: the simplified Do 317A powered by two DB 603A engines and featuring conventional defensive armament, and the more advanced Do 317B with DB 610A/B engines, remotely aimed Fernbedienbare Drehlafette-style gun turrets, heavier bombload, and an extended wing.
Die Dornier Do 317 war ein mittelschwerer deutscher Bomber. Mit der Planung des Flugzeugentwurfes wurde 1940 begonnen und obwohl das Flugzeug au?erlich stark an die Do 217 erinnert, handelt es sich um ein komplett neuen Entwurf.