Airco DH.9C

DH.9C

Picture - Australian registered DH.9C G-AUED c.1923

Role: passenger
National origin: United Kingdom
Manufacturer: Airco
Number built: 19
Developed from: Airco DH.9

The Airco DH.9C was a British passenger aircraft.

Development and design

After WW1 there were many surplus Airco DH.9 light bombers, designed by Geoffrey de Havilland, available for the emerging air transport business. At first stripped DH.9s were used to carry one passenger behind the pilot in the gunner's position, but later versions, designated DH.9B added a second passenger seat ahead of the pilot. A second seat behind the pilot was added by extending the rear cockpit in the early DH.9C. Later DH.9Cs had this rear position converted to hold two passengers face to face, protected by a faired dorsal canopy or cabin. Most of these later four seat aircraft had slight sweepback to counter the rearward shift in the centre of gravity.

The DH.9, DH.9B and DH.9C were dimensionally similar, with the same span and height and only small variations in length depending on the powerplant. They were two bay tractor biplanes, with fixed two wheel main and tail-skid undercarriage. Their structures were of spruce and ash, wire braced and fabric covered.

The first four seat, swept DH.9C, G-EAYT received its C of A on 13 January 1922.

Operational history

Nineteen aircraft were produced for operators, 13 in the UK, 3 in Australia, and 3 in Spain. The last in service was operated by Northern Air Lines in Barton, Greater Manchester until 1932.

Operators

Information from

Australia

QANTAS (3 aircraft)

Belgium

SNx‰TA (precursor to SABENA) (1 aircraft)

Netherlands

KLM (1 aircraft)

Spain

Espanola del Trafico Aero (3 aircraft)

United Kingdom

The de Havilland Aeroplane Hire Service (7 aircraft)
Northern Air Lines (2 aircraft)

Specifications

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Capacity: 4 (3 passengers)
Length: 30 ft 6 in (9.30 m)
Wingspan: 42 ft 4/8 in (12.92 m)
Height: 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m)
Wing area: 434 ft² (40.3 m²)
Empty weight: 2,600 lb (1,179 kg)
Gross weight: 3,300 lb (1,497 kg)
Powerplant: 1 x— Siddeley Puma, 450 hp (335 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 115 mph (185 km/h)
Cruise speed: 95 mph (153 km/h)
Range: 500 miles (805 km)
Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5790 m)
Rate of climb: 660 ft/min (3.35 m/s)

Related development

Airco DH.9
Airco DH.9A
Airco DH.9B

Jackson, A.J. De Havilland aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam Publishing Co. Ltd, 1978 ISBN 0-370-30022-X

Airco DH.9C Pictures and Airco DH.9C for Sale.

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Source: WikiPedia