De Havilland Leopard Moth

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DH.85 Leopard Moth
de Havilland Leopard Moth. Photographed late 1950's, outback Australia
Type	Passenger aircraft
Manufacturer	de Havilland
Maiden flight	27 May 1933
Produced	1933-1936
Number built	133

The de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth is a three-seat high-wing monoplane designed and built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company in 1933. It was a successor to the DH.80 Puss Moth and replaced it on the company's Stag Lane and later Hatfield production lines. It was similar in configuration to the earlier aircraft, but instead of a fuselage with tubular steel framework, a lighter all-plywood structure was used which allowed a substantial improvement in range, performance and capacity on the same type of engine.

The prototype first flew on 27 May 1933 and in July won the King's Cup Race at an average speed of 139.5 mph, piloted by Geoffrey de Havilland. A total of 133 aircraft were built, 71 of them for owners in the British Isles, before production ended in 1936.

44 Leopard Moths were impressed into military service in Britain and others in Australia during World War II, mostly as communications aircraft. Only a few managed to survive six years of hard usage although a small number were still airworthy seventy years after the last was completed.

[edit] Specifications (DH.85)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 3, pilot and two passengers
• Length: 24 ft 6 in (7.5 m)
• Wingspan: 37 ft 6 in (11.4 m)
• Height: 8 ft 9 in (2.7 m)
• Wing area: 206 ft² (19.1 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,405 lb (640 kg)
• Loaded weight: 2,225 lb (1,010 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× de Havilland Gipsy Major , 130 hp (97 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 137 mph (209 km/h)
• Range: 715 miles (1,090 km)
• Service ceiling: 21,500 ft (6,555 m)
• Rate of climb: 625 ft/min (191 m/min)

[edit] References

• A. J. Jackson. British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972: Volume II, 1988, London: Putnam (Conway Maritime Press).