De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth
| de Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth | |
|---|---|
|
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| Type: | Airliner |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
December 1927 |
| Number of pieces: |
10 |
The de Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth was a single-engine, double-decker transport aircraft made by the British manufacturer de Havilland Aircraft Company in the 1920s. It offered space for eight passengers.
history
After the de Havilland DH.50 had been successfully introduced in Australia , the desire arose for a larger successor model. De Havilland then developed an aircraft in just ten weeks, the frame structure of which was largely made of spruce wood. Plywood covered with fabric served as the outer skin. In the closed cabin there were six fixed and two folding seats and two large luggage compartments. The pilot sat in an open cockpit behind the wings. Either a Bristol Jupiter or an Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar engine served as drive .
The first flight of the prototype took place in December 1927 . After completion of the test flights, the aircraft came to Melbourne to start the MacRobertson Miller Aviation service between Adelaide and Broken Hill on March 2, 1928 . The baptismal name of this aircraft, Canberra , initially served as a type designation. Only later was it decided on the name Giant Moth .
Nine of the ten aircraft delivered were given the number DH.61. The tenth made its way to Canada in individual parts , was assembled there and put into service as DHC.141. Western Canada Airlines received two models equipped with floats. Three machines carried out the airmail service of the Australian Aerial Services and the Qantas . Another model was acquired by the Daily Mail in order to be able to bring its photo reporters to locations across the UK. This aircraft was therefore equipped with a darkroom.
From the mid-1930s, the Giant Moth were decommissioned and replaced by twin-engine commercial aircraft.
Users
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Australia
- Guinea Airways
- Holden Air Transport
- MacRobertson Miller Airlines
- Qantas Airways
- West Australian Airlines
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Canada
- London Air Transport
- Ontario Provincial Air Services
- Western Canada Airways
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United Kingdom
- Alan Cobham Aviation
- Associated Newspapers
- Imperial Airways
- National Flying Services
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 |
| Passengers | 8th |
| length | 11.89 m |
| span | 15.85 m |
| height | 3.99 m |
| Wing area | 56.95 m² |
| Empty weight | 1,656 kg |
| Takeoff weight | 3,175 kg |
| Top speed | 212 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 5,485 m |
| Range | 720 km |
| Engines | a radial engine Bristol Jupiter XI with 373 kW |
