Airco DH.3

D.H.3

Manufacturer: Airco
Designed by: Geoffrey de Havilland
Introduced: 1916
Retired: 1917
Status: Prototype only
Number built: 2

The Airco DH.3 was a British bomber aircraft of the First World War. The DH.3 was designed by Geoffrey de Havilland, Chief Designer at the Aircraft Manufacturing Company in 1916 as a long range day bomber. It was a large biplane with wide-span three-bay wings, slender fuselage, and a curved rudder. It was powered by two 120 hp (89 kW) Beardmore engines mounted as pushers between the wings. In addition to tailskid landing gear, two wheels were placed beneath the nose to prevent bumping.

A second prototype, designated D.H.3A was built with more powerful (160 hp/119 kW) Beardmore engines, and a production order for 50 placed by the War Office. This order was cancelled however before any could be completed, because Strategic bombing was not thought to be worthwhile and twin engined bombers were claimed to be impracticable. The two prototypes were scrapped in 1917.

The DH.10 was a development of the DH.3 which first flew in March 1918 but was too late to see squadron service during the war.

Specifications (DH.3)

Data from De Havilland Aircraft since 1909

General characteristics

Crew: 3
Length: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
Wingspan: 60 ft 10 in (18.54 m)
Height: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
Wing area: 793 ft² (73.67 m²)
Empty weight: 3,980 lb (1,805 kg)
Gross weight: 5,810 lb (2,635 kg)
Powerplant: 2 x— Beardmore 120 hp inline piston engine, 120 hp (89 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 95 mph (153 km/h)
Range: 700 miles (1,130 km)
Endurance: 8 hours
Rate of climb: 550 ft/min (2.8 m/s)

Armament

2 x— flexibly mounted .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis guns
up to 680 lb (308 kg) bombs

Related development

Airco DH.10

Bibliography

Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada: Prospero Books, 1997, p. 118. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
Jackson, A.J. De Havilland Aircraft since 1909. London:Putnam, Third edition, 1987. ISBN 0 85177 802 X.
Mason, Francis K. The British Bomber since 1914. London:Putnam, 1994. ISBN 0 85177 861 5.

Airco DH.3 Pictures and Airco DH.3 for Sale.

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Source: WikiPedia