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De Havilland Fox Moth

DH.83 Fox Moth

Role: Passenger aircraft
Manufacturer: de Havilland
Designed by: A.E. Hagg
First flight: 29 January 1932
Introduced: 1932
Number built: 154

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, tail plane, 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, which were fitted to the purpose-built wooden (longerons: ash forward of the pilot, aft Sitka spruce), plywood covered fuselage. 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.

Operational history

Picture - Canadian-built DH.83C Fox Moth with canopy fitted to pilot's position at Manchester (Ringway) Airport in 1955

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 joy rides or as feeder flights around the British Isles. The DH.83 Fox Moth was the first aircraft to earn a profit in commercial service.

Fox Moth VH-UQM Miss Currie was purchased by Victor Holyman for �1,450 and began 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 130hp (97kW) Gipsy IIIA on most British-built aircraft and the 145hp (108kW) Gipsy Major 1C on the 53 post-war DH.83C Canadian-built aircraft. The DHC-83C 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 gear. The DH.83C was an excellent and economical bush plane.

Variants

DH.83 Fox Moth: Light transport biplane; 98 built in the United Kingdom, plus two more in each of Australia and Canada.
DH.83C Fox Moth: 53 aircraft were built in Canada after World War II.
Gasuden KR-1: This was an unlicensed Japanese-built copy of the Fox Moth powered by a 150hp (112kW) Gasuden Jimpu 3 radial engine. The first prototype, J-BBJI named Chidorigo (Plover) flew on 23 December 1933. Seven KR-1s were built.

Survivors

DH.83 G-ACEJ is still active in the UK in 2010, regularly appearing at displays and meetings.
DH.83C G-AOJH
ZK-ADI active in New Zealand in 2010
ZK-APT active in New Zealand in 2010
DH.83 VH-UJJ ex-G-ACEB active in Australia in 2009
C-FYPM ex-ZK-AEK active in Canada in 2008

Operators

Australia

Adastra Airlines
Royal Australian Air Force
Tasmanian Aerial Services

Canada

Royal Canadian Air Force

New Zealand

Air Travel (NZ) Ltd
National Airways Corporation - Three aircraft only.
Royal New Zealand Air Force
No. 42 Squadron RNZAF

Spanish State

Spanish Air Force

South Africa

South African Air Force

United Kingdom

Blackpool and West Coast Air Services
Giro Aviation
Hillmans Airways
Midland and Scottish Air Ferries
North West Air Services
Olley Air Service
Scottish Motor Traction

Yugoslavia

Aeroput

Specifications (DH.83)

Data from De Havilland Aircraft since 1909

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Capacity: 3-4 passengers
Length: 25 ft 9 in (7.85 m)
Wingspan: 30 ft 10⅝ in (9.42 m)
Height: 8 ft 9� in (2.68 m)
Wing area: 261� ft� (24.3 m�)
Empty weight: 1,071 lb (487 kg)
Loaded weight: 2,000 lb (909 kg)
Powerplant: 1x� de Havilland Gipsy III, 120 hp (97 kW)

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)

Bibliography

Hotson, Fred W. The de Havilland Canada Story. Toronto: CANAV Books, 1983. ISBN 0-07-549483-3.
Jackson, A. J. British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972: Volume II. London: Putnam (Conway Maritime Press), 1988. ISBN 0-85177-813-5.
Jackson, A.J. De Havilland Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam, (Third ed.)1987. ISBN 0-85177-802-X.
Mikesh, Robert C. and Shorzoe Abe. Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941. London: Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-840-2.
Milberry, Larry. Aviation In Canada. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-07-082778-8.
Molson, Ken M. and Harold A. Taylor. Canadian Aircraft Since 1909. Stittsville, Ontario: Canada's Wings, Inc., 1982. ISBN 0-920002-11-0.

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Source: WikiPedia