The aircraft was designed by F. Fecher in the Akaflieg (academic group of flyers) of Technische Universität Darmstadt.

Aerodynamic cleanliness and low weight were emphasised in the design, resulting in a small aircraft with clean lines.

The D-22 was of wooden construction with cantilever biplane and oval cross-section fuselage skinned with plywood and fabric on parts of the single-spar wings, which could be dismounted and folded rearwards.

The engine was mounted in the fuselage nose and drove a two-bladed fixed-pitch propeller.

It improved its score after a rally around Europe, where it took the 4th place, with a cruise speed of 205 km/h (127 mph; 111 kn).