Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Commercial airliner

Power Plant:

One 336 kw (450 hp) Bristol Jupiter IX geared nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine

Specifications:

History:

The de Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth was produced by de Havilland in 1927 as a “six-eight passenger machine for Australia”. Powered by a Bristol Jupiter radial engine, it was designed by a team led by Arthur Ernest Hagg as a freighter to meet an Australian requirement for a single-engine cabin biplane. Initially designated DH.61 Canberra, it made its first flight at Stag Lane at Edgeware in the hands of Hubert Broad in December 1927. Of solid plywood/spruce construction, it could carry up to eight passengers.

Ten examples were built, of which five came to Australia. One remained in the UK with the Alan Cobham Aviation Company G-AAEV (c/n 335 – ‘Youth of Britain’). It made a five month tour of the British Isles from May 1929 during which 10,000 school children and 3,500 mayors and corporation members were flown, and 2,500 joy flights were given. It was taken to Southern Rhodesia in December 1929 for survey work but crashed on 19 January 1930 at Broken Hill. Three went to Canada G-CAJT ( c/n 328), G-CAPG (c/n 329) and G-CARD (c/n 336) where they operated on wheels, Shorts-built floats, and skis.

The prototype had a 343 kw (460 hp) Bristol Jupiter VI engine but G-AAAN (c/n 331 – ‘Geraldine’) had a 373 kw (500 hp) Jupiter XI and c/n 335 had a 373 kw (500 hp) Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar VIC.

The five examples that saw service in this region were: the prototype G-EBTL (c/n 325 – ‘Old Gold’) which was obtained by Commercial Aviation Company and became G-AUTL, registered to MacRobertsons Ltd of Fitzroy, VIC on 6 March 1928. It entered service with MacRobertson Miller Aviation Company of Adelaide, SA in October 1929 as G-AUTL, becoming VH-UTL in August 1930. It was sold to West Australian Airways on 16 April 1931, and to Guinea Airways Ltd of Lae, PNG on 21 June 1935. Its registration lapsed on 18 September 1936.

DH.61 /n 330 was registered by Airgold Ltd of Sydney, NSW on 19 November 1928. Named ‘Canberra’ it crashed, landing at Cowes, VIC, on 14 November 1928, so Airgold did not accept delivery. It was then registered to de Havilland Aircraft Pty Ltd of South Melbourne, VIC and sold to Leslie H Holden of Sydney on 15 January 1929. It became VH-UHW in August 1930 and entered service with Holden’s Air Transport Services Ltd of Sydney. It crashed at Kaiapit, Papua New Guinea, and was destroyed by fire on 2 November 1934.

DH.61 c/n 331 saw service in the UK as G-AAAN before being shipped to Australia and being registered on 25 February 1932 with West Australian Airways Ltd as VH-UQJ. Powered by a 336 kw (450 hp) Bristol Jupiter VI engine it went to Guinea Airways Ltd of Salamaua, PNG on 21 June 1935 but crashed on 20 August 1935 at Wau, PNG and did not fly again.

DH.61 c/n 333 had a 343 kw (460 hp) Bristol Jupiter XI engine and became G-AUJC with Qantas on 3 May 1929. Named ‘Diana’ it became VH-UJC in August 1930 and continued with Qantas until sold to W R Carpenter & Company on 22 July 1935 but crashed at Salamaua on 23 October that year.

DH.61 c/n 334 became G-AUJB with Qantas in May 1929, although G-AUJD for a short period was painted incorrectly on the aircraft. Named ‘Apollo’, it became VH-UJB in July 1929 and in October that year had a Bristol Jupiter VI engine installed in lieu of the Bristol Jupiter XI. It was obtained by E J Stephens of Wau on 25 September 1935, and Stephens Aviation Ltd of Wau on 26 September 1937, but crashed in the Bitoi Valley near Mubo, Papua New Guinea on 6 May 1938.

The Qantas Founders Museum at Longreach in Queensland has had built a non-flying replica of a DH.61 Giant Moth for display. This aircraft VH-UJB was completed in mid 1999 and has since been displayed at a number of aviation events, including the Australian International Air Show at Avalon, VIC in February 2001.