De Havilland DH.77

DH.77

Role: Interceptor fighter
National origin: United Kingdom
Manufacturer: de Havilland
Designed by: W.G Carter
First flight: 11 July 1929
Status: Prototype
Number built: 1

The de Havilland DH.77 was a prototype British fighter aircraft of the late 1920s. Intended as a fast climbing interceptor for Britain's Royal Air Force, the DH.77 was a lightweight low wing monoplane powered by a relatively low power engine. Despite excellent performance, only a single aircraft was built, the Hawker Fury biplane being preferred.

Development and design

In 1927, the British Air Ministry, faced with the need to deal with increased bomber performance, issued Specification F.20/27 for a single seat interceptor. Unlike previous fighter Specifications, the resulting aircraft were intended to be short ranged (not intended to mount standing patrols), fast climbing high altitude aircraft, carrying a minimum of equipment. To meet this requirement, de Havilland developed as a Private Venture the DH.77, designed by W.G. Carter, of Gloster Aircraft Company, in close collaboration with engine designer Frank Halford.

The DH.77 was a small low-winged lightweight monoplane , of mixed metal and wood construction, powered by a 300hp 224kW Napier Rapier air cooled H-engine, which offered very low frontal area to minimise drag. The wing was braced with distinctive bracing struts above the wing, while the aircraft had a wide track fixed tailwheel undercarriage. It was fitted with large span ailerons and an all-moving tailplane to give good control characteristics and spin recovery. Armament was the normal pair of synchronised Vickers machine guns, mounted on each side of the cockpit.

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The single prototype first flew on 11 July 1929. Despite the low power of the Rapier (which gave only 60% of the power of the Rolls-Royce Kestrel which powered the competing Hawker Hornet), the DH.77 demonstrated excellent performance, reaching 204mph (328km/h) (although performance carrying a full military load was less, reaching 185mph (298km/h)). It was delivered to Martlesham Heath for evaluation by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment on 12 December 1929. Although the prototype was purchased by the Air Ministry, no production followed, the orders going to the heavier and more powerful Hawker Fury, production version of the Hornet. The DH.77 continued in use at Martlesham until 1934.

Specifications

Data from De Havilland Aircraft since 1909

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 24 ft 4¾ in (7.44 m)
Wingspan: 32 ft 2 in (9.81 m)
Height: 8 ft 0 in (2.44 m)
Wing area: 163 ft² (15.1 m²)
Empty weight: 1,655 lb (752 kg)
Loaded weight: 2,279 lb (1,036 kg)
Powerplant: 1x— Napier Rapier I 16-cylinder air-cooled H engine, 300 hp (224 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 204 mph (177 knots, 328 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
Service ceiling: 25,900 ft (7,900 m)
Rate of climb: 1,885 ft/min (9.6 m/s)

Armament

Guns: 2x— .303 in Vickers machine guns

Comparable aircraft

Bristol Bullpup
Fairey Firefly II
Hawker Fury
Gloster Gauntlet
Saunders A.10
Vickers Jockey
Westland Interceptor

There was an agreement between de Havilland and Gloster to co-operate on the development of de Havilland military aircraft.

Jackson, A.J. De Havilland Aircraft since 1909. London:Putnam, Third edition, 1987. ISBN 0 85177 802 X.
Lewis, Peter. The British Fighter since 1912. London:Putnam, Fourth edition, 1979. ISBN 0 370 10049 2.
Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter since 1912.Annapolis, Maryland USA:Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN 1-55750-082-7.

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Source: WikiPedia