De Havilland DH.9
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The de Havilland DH.9 was a British bomber used in World War I. It was followed by the DH.9A with a more powerful engine.
Contents |
[edit] DH.9
The DH.9 was commissioned in response to German bombing raids on England in 1917. It was based on the Airco DH.4, and was intended as a longer range version of the DH.4. The DH.9 used a 230-HP (172p-kW) Galloway-Adriatic. This engine was so under powered that the DH.9 was actually inferior in performance to the DH.4 it was supposed to replace as it was unable to fly high with a full bomb load. Because of its lack of altitude, 54 were shot down, and another 94 were written off on the Western Front between May and November of 1917. The DH.9 was however more successful against the Turkish forces in the Middle East, as they lacked adequate air cover.
A handful of DH.9s were exported to the United States, Belgium, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. South Africa modified their DH.9s with Jupiter engines and renamed them Mpala.
[edit] DH.9A
The DH.9A (also referred to as the Nine-Ack) was produced by Westland Aircraft after the Americans showed interest in the DH.9. It was fitted with an large 400-HP (298 kW) engine. The DH.9A also featured larger wings than the DH.9.
The DH.9A was armed with a Vickers machine gun synchronized to fire through the propeller for the pilot, and either a single or double Lewis Gun for the observer.
[edit] Specifications (DH.9A)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 30 ft (9.14 m)
- Wingspan: 46 ft (14.02 m)
- Height: 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
- Wing area: 488 ft² (45.36 m²)
- Empty weight: 2,800 lb (1,270 kg)
- Loaded weight: lb (kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 4,900 lb (2,223 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Liberty 12A V-12 Piston, 400 hp (298 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 114 mph (183 km/h)
- Range: mi (km)
- Service ceiling: 16,500 ft (5,029 m)
- Rate of climb: ft/s (m/s)
- Wing loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
- Power/mass: hp/lb (kW/kg)
Armament
- Forward firing Vickers machine gun
- 1 or 2 Rear Lewis gun on scarff ring
- 450 lb (204 kg) bombs
[edit] References
Winchester, Jim [2003]. Bombers of the 20th Century (in English). United Kingdom: Airlife Publishing LTD, 7. ISBN 1-84037-386-5.
