https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Fox_Moth
The DH.83 Fox Moth was a successful small biplane passenger aircraft from the
1930s powered by a single de Havilland Gipsy Major I inline inverted engine,
manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company.
The aircraft was designed late in 1931 as a low cost and economical light
passenger aircraft. Many components including the engine, tailplane, fin, rudder
and wings were identical to those being used for the de Havilland DH.82 Tiger
Moth then being built in large quantities as a military trainer. These were
fitted to the purpose-built wooden, plywood-covered fuselage (longerons: ash
forward of the pilot, aft Sitka spruce). The pilot sat in a raised cockpit
behind the small enclosed passenger cabin, which was usually fitted with three
seats for short-range hops. The "Speed Model" was fitted with a canopy and
fairing. The wings folded for space saving storage.
Role
Passenger aircraft
Manufacturer
de Havilland
Designer
A.E. Hagg
First flight
29 January 1932
Introduction
1932
Number built
154
The prototype first flew on 29 January 1932, and was sent to Canada gaining
sufficient interest that seven were assembled at the company's Toronto plant.
"Home" based production was shared evenly between sales within the United
Kingdom and exports, with 49 aircraft each going onto the British register and
being sent overseas. British-based aircraft were mostly used on short-haul
joyrides or as feeder flights around the British Isles. The DH.83 Fox Moth was
the first aircraft to earn a profit in commercial airline service without
subsidies.
operating over the 108-mile route over south-eastern Bass Strait between
Launceston, Tasmania and Whitemark on Flinders Island in October 1932. It was
thus the inaugural aircraft of what was to later become Australian National
Airways. QANTAS used Fox Moths to replace de Havilland DH.50s on the Flying
Doctor Service.
Total production of the DH.83/DHC.83C Fox Moth was 153, being 98 in England, two
in Australia and 53 in Canada after WWII. A number of different engines were
used, including the 130 hp (97 kW) Gipsy IIIA on most British-built aircraft and
the 145 hp (108 kW) Gipsy Major 1C on the 53 postwar DH.83C Canadian-built
aircraft. The DHC-83Cs were fitted with larger pilot cockpit openings, a larger
windscreen and canopy, a large ambulance cabin door on the port side to
accommodate a stretcher, and did not have folding wings. The DH.83C used DH.82
Tiger Moth main and tail landing gear. The DH.83C was an excellent and
economical bush plane.
Specifications (DH.83)
General characteristics
Crew: one
Capacity: three-four passengers
Length: 25 ft 9 in (7.85 m)
Wingspan: 30 ft 10? in (9.42 m)
Empty weight: 1,071 lb (487 kg)
Loaded weight: 2,000 lb (909 kg)
Performance
Maximum speed: 106 mph (92 knots, 171 km/h)
Cruise speed: 91 mph (79 knots, 147 km/h)
Range: 425 mi (370nmi, 684 km)
Service ceiling: 12,700 ft (3,870 m)
Rate of climb: 450 ft/min (2.3 m/s)
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