Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Two-seat training and sport biplane

Power Plant:

One 45 kw (60 hp) ADC Cirrus 1; or one 63 kw (85 hp) ADC Cirrus II; or one 67 kw (90 hp) ADC Cirrus III; or

one 78 kw (105 hp) ADC Cirrus Hermes I; all four-cylinder in-line air-cooled engines; or

one 56 kw (75 hp) Armstrong Siddeley Genet I five-cylinder air-cooled radial engine

Specifications:

History:

The prototype de Havilland DH.60 G-EBKT (c/n 168) was flown for the first time on 22 February 1925 by Geoffrey de Havilland. In May that year, with a view to showing the aircraft’s capabilities, the prototype, with additional fuel tanks, was flown non-stop by Alan Cobham (later Sir) from Croydon in London to Zurich in Switzerland, remaining to take on fuel, having lunch and returning to the UK the same day, covering a distance of 1,609 km (1,000 miles) in a total flying time of 13 hrs 51 mins at a speed of 115 km/h (72 mph).

The type entered production with de Havilland at Stag Lane in Edgeware in a variety of versions with a range of engines. In describing the Moth, London Press stated in 1925 “the Moth is the most practical and successful light aeroplane which the world has so far seen”. By 1928 de Havilland was producing one aeroplane per working day.

First engine installed in the Moth was the ADC Cirrus I, produced by the Aircraft Disposal Company, which had a capacity of 4500 cc and produced 45 kw (60 hp). In 1927 the Cirrus II was fitted as standard, this producing 63 kw (85 hp), increasing max speed to 158 km/h (98 mph) and cruising speed to 130 km/h (80 mph). This model had a max weight of 575 kg (1,265 lb).

Soon the type was shown to be aerobatic, one demonstrating its capabilities whilst fitted with a 56 kw (75 hp) Armstrong Siddeley Genet air-cooled radial engine.

The Moth was supplied to the RAF for its Central Flying School. The British Air Ministry formed five flying clubs and supplied them with DH.60s. Two prototypes and 18 pre-production aircraft were built before full production deliveries commenced.

Two early production aircraft (c/ns 199 and 200) were taken on charge by the RAAF in March 1926 as A7-1 and A7-2 for evaluation purposes, A7-1 being based at No 1 FTS at Point Cook, VIC and A7-2 with No 3 Squadron at Richmond, NSW.

Initial production aircraft in 1925 were the DH.60 Moth with the Cirrus I engine, followed in 1927 by the Cirrus II engined model, the first of these being G-EBMO (c/n 197). The first production aircraft was G-AUFR (c/n 351) for Qantas.

The next model was the DH.60X, which was very similar to the Cirrus II Moth but had a strengthened airframe and weighed 30 kg (66 lb) more. In March 1928 a Moth was equipped with Handley Page automatic slots and at this time a new “X” type undercarriage with a wider track was installed. The first DH.60X was G-EBQH (c/n 276) and some 316 were built, of which 10 were built under licence in Finland and three in Australia. The first Australian DH.60X was G-AUHF in April 1928, which was destroyed in a crash at Seven-Mile Beach, Gerringong, NSW on 16 November 1929.

Twenty DH.60X Cirrus Moths were ordered for the RAAF to replace the Avro 504K in the training role, these becoming A7-3 to A7-22 and being commissioned in 1928. One, A7-13, operated at Point Cook as a seaplane, later becoming VH-AUA, surviving and being placed on display at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, NSW.

The Moth was very popular in the late 1920s and the type was used extensively throughout the United Kingdom by aero clubs. An example was entered in the 1926 Lympne Trials in Kent, this example being fitted with an Armstrong Siddeley Genet I radial engine. The success of the type achieved much in making the public aviation aware.

One G-EBPP (c/n 355) was shipped to Australia and flown by Major Hereward de Havilland in 1928 from Perth, WA to Melbourne, VIC, later becoming G-AUPP.

Many examples were entered in the King’s Cup Races in the United Kingdom. As time went by new engines were installed and development of the design proceeded. One, a floatplane, was taken to Brazil where it completed a survey of Rio de Janeiro. Examples were supplied to the RAF for training work, and one (serial 7564) was operated by the US Naval Attache in London.

A total of 595 Moths was built in the United Kingdom at Stag Lane, many for export, a number of these being imported for service in Australia and New Zealand. A number were built in Australia by the General Aircraft Company Ltd in Sydney, with at least nine being completed.