De Havilland Hawk Moth
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| DH.75 Hawk Moth | |
|---|---|
| Type | Cabin monoplane |
| Manufacturer | De Havilland Aircraft Company |
| Maiden flight | 1928 |
| Number built | 8 |
The de Havilland DH.75 Hawk Moth was a 1920s British four-seat cabin monoplane built by De Havilland Aircraft Company at Stag Lane Aerodrome, Edgware.
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[edit] Design and development
The DH.75 Hawk Moth was the first of a family of high-wing monoplane Moths. The aircraft had a fabric-covered steel-tube fuselage and a wooden wing. The Hawk Moth was first flown on 7 December 1928. The first aircraft used a 200 hp (149 kW) de Havilland Ghost V-8 engine. The aircraft was underpowered and a 240 hp (179kW) Armstrong Siddeley Lynx VIA radial engine was fitted to it and all other Hawk Moths. Changes were also made to the structure including increased span and chord wings and the aircraft was redesignated the DH.75A.
In December 1929 the first aircraft was demonstrated in Canada with both wheel and ski undercarriage. Following trails with the second aircraft on floats the Canadian government ordered three aircraft for civil use. The first Canadian aircraft (actually the first Hawk Moth) did not have any doors on the port side so could not be used as a floatplane, it was used by the Controller of Civil Aircraft. Further tests were carried out by De Havilland Canada in 1930, and the second and third aircraft were cleared to use floats. With restrictions on payload when fitted with floats the Canadian aircraft were only used on skis or wheels. In attempt to complete with American designed aircraft, the eight aircraft was produced as the DH.75B with a 300 hp Wright Whirlwind engine. Production was stopped and two aircraft were not completed.
[edit] Operational service
With three aircraft operating in Canada a further two were exported to Australia. One of the Australian aircraft was used by Amy Johnson to fly from Brisbane to Sydney in 1930 when her Moth Jason was damaged.
[edit] Variants
- DH.75
- Prototype with de Havilland Ghost V8 engine, one built later re-engined.
- DH.75A
- Production version with Armstrong Siddeley Lynx VIA radial piston engine, 6 built.
- DH.75B
- Final production aircraft fitted with a 300 hp (224 kW) Wright R-975 Whirlwind radial engine, one built.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (D.H.75A (Landplane))
General characteristics
- Length: 28 ft 10 in (8.79 m)
- Wingspan: 47 ft 0 in (14.33 m)
- Height: 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
- Wing area: 334 ft² (31.03 m²)
- Empty weight: 2,380 lb (2080 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,650 lb (1656 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Armstrong Siddeley Lynx VIA radial piston engine, 240 hp (179 kw)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 127 mph (204 km/h)
- Range: 560 miles (901 km)
- Service ceiling 14,500 ft (4420 m)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
- Jackson, A.J. (1973). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 2. London: Putnam. ISBN 0 370 10107 X.
[edit] External links
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