De Havilland Swallow Moth
DH.81 Swallow Moth | |
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Drawing of DH.81A configuration | |
Role | sports aircraft Type of aircraft |
National origin | United Kingdom |
Manufacturer | de Havilland Aircraft Co. Ltd |
First flight | 21 August 1931 |
Retired | 3 February 1932 |
Number built | 1 |
The de Havilland DH.81 Swallow Moth was aimed at the low-cost sporting aircraft market during the Great Depression. It was a single-engined two-seat low-wing monoplane; only one was built.
Development
The DH. 81 Swallow Moth was a low-wing cantilever monoplane.[1] This arrangement and its plywood-covered fuselage and closely cowled 80 hp (60 kW) inline Gipsy IV engine gave it a very clean aerodynamic look. The wings carried ailerons that were horn-balanced at the wingtips and the empennage was of characteristic de Havilland form, with a balanced rudder. There was separate tandem seating for two, initially open, but later enclosed with a one-piece hinged cabin top. With this enclosure the aircraft was called the DH.81A and the top speed increased by 12 mph (19 km/h). The main undercarriage was simple, the legs reaching to mid-fuselage in front of the leading edge of the wing, with bracing struts fore and aft to the keel; the later Leopard Moth used a similar arrangement. A small tailskid completed the undercarriage.[1]
The Swallow Moth was first flown at Stag Lane Aerodrome by Geoffrey de Havilland on 21 August 1931.[2] Some alteration to the fin followed and the flight testing continued until February 1932. During this time the class B marking E-7 was allocated, but the Swallow Moth never reached the civil register. Its design influenced later de Havilland aircraft, particularly the 1938 Moth Minor.[3]
Variants
- DH.81
- Original configuration with a two-seat open cockpit.
- DH.81A
- Prototype modified with an enclosed cabin and flown from November 1932.
Specifications
Data from de Havilland Aircraft since 1909.[3]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one
- Length: 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
- Wingspan: 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
- Height: 8 ft 4 in (2.56 m)
- Wing area: 149 sq ft (13.85 m2)
- Gross weight: 1,330 lb (603 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × de Havilland Gipsy IV four-cylinder inverted inline air-cooled engine , 80 hp (60 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 117 mph (188 km/h, 102 kn)
References
Notes
- ^ a b Jackson 1978, pp. 301–302.
- ^ Jackson 1978, p. 301.
- ^ a b Jackson 1978, p. 302.
Bibliography
- Jackson, A. J. (1978). de Havilland Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-30022-X.
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numerical
sequence
- Biplane No.1
- Biplane No.2
- DH.1
- DH.2
- DH.3
- DH.4
- DH.5
- DH.6
- DH.9 / DH.9A / DH.9C
- DH.10
- DH.11
- DH.12
- DH.14
- DH.15
- DH.16
- DH.17
- DH.18
- DH.19
- DH.20
- DH.21
- DH.22
- DH.23
- DH.24
- DH.25
- DH.26
- DH.27
- DH.28
- DH.29
- DH.30
- DH.31
- DH.32
- DH.33
- DH.34
- DH.35
- DH.36
- DH.37
- DH.38
- DH.39
- DH.40
- DH.41
- DH.42
- DH.43
- DH.44
- DH.45
- DH.46
- DH.47
- DH.48
- DH.49
- DH.50
- DH.51
- DH.52
- DH.53
- DH.54
- DH.55
- DH.56
- DH.57
- DH.58
- DH.59
- DH.60
- DH.61
- DH.62
- DH.63
- DH.64
- DH.65
- DH.66
- DH.67
- DH.68
- DH.69
- DH.70
- DH.71
- DH.72
- DH.73
- DH.74
- DH.75
- DH.76
- DH.77
- DH.78
- DH.79
- DH.80
- DH.81
- DH.82
- DH.83
- DH.84
- DH.85
- DH.86
- DH.87
- DH.88
- DH.89
- DH.90
- DH.91
- DH.92
- DH.93
- DH.94
- DH.95
- DH.96
- DH.97
- DH.98
- DH.99
- DH.100
- DH.101
- DH.102
- DH.103
- DH.104
- DH.105
- DH.106
- DH.108
- DH.110
- DH.112
- DH.113
- DH.114
- DH.115
- DH.116
- DH.118
- DH.119
- DH.120
- DH.121
- DH.122
- DH.123
- DH.125
- DH.126
- Albatross
- Amiens
- Canberra
- Cirrus Moth
- Comet (jet)
- Comet
- Derby
- Devon
- Dolphin
- Dominie
- Don
- Doncaster
- Dove
- Dragon
- Dragon Rapide
- Dragonfly
- Express
- Hercules
- Flamingo
- Fox Moth
- Gazelle
- Genet Moth
- Giant Moth (DH.50)
- Giant Moth (DH.61)
- Gipsy Moth
- Hawk Moth
- Hermes Moth
- Heron
- Highclere
- Hornet
- Hornet Moth
- Humming Bird
- Leopard Moth
- Mantis
- Menasco Moth
- Metal Moth
- Mosquito
- Moth
- Moth Major
- Moth Minor
- Moth Trainer
- M'pala
- Ninack
- Okapi
- Oxford
- Puss Moth
- Queen Bee
- Sea Vixen
- Sea Venom
- Tiger Moth (DH.71)
- Tiger Moth (DH.82)
- Trident
- Vampire
- Venom
Fighters | |
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Passenger |
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Trainers | |
Racers | |
Experimental | |
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