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De Havilland Leopard Moth

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Top speed
  
220 km/h

Length
  
7.47 m

First flight
  
May 27, 1933

Wingspan
  
11 m

Introduced
  
8 July 1933

Manufacturer
  
de Havilland

De Havilland Leopard Moth wwwaviastarorgpicturesenglandhavillanddh85gif

The de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth is a three-seat high-wing cabin monoplane designed and built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company in 1933.

Contents

De Havilland Leopard Moth de Havilland DH85 Leopard Moth Specifications Technical Data

Design and construction

De Havilland Leopard Moth de Havilland DH 85 Leopard Moth Photos AirplanePicturesnet

It was a successor to the DH.80 Puss Moth and replaced it on the company's Stag Lane and later Hatfield production lines. It was similar in configuration to the earlier aircraft, but instead of a fuselage with tubular steel framework, a lighter all-plywood structure was used which allowed a substantial improvement in range, performance and capacity on the same type of engine. The pilot is seated centrally in front of two side-by-side passengers and the wings can be folded for hangarage.

Operational history

De Havilland Leopard Moth De Havilland DH85 Leopard Moth

The prototype first flew on 27 May 1933 and in July won the King's Cup Race at an average speed of 139.5 mph (224.5 km/h), piloted by Geoffrey de Havilland. A total of 133 aircraft were built, including 71 for owners in the British Isles, and 10 for Australia. Other examples were exported to France, Germany, India, South Africa and Switzerland. Production of the Leopard Moth ended in 1936.

De Havilland Leopard Moth de Havilland DH 85 Leopard Moth Photos AirplanePicturesnet

44 Leopard Moths were impressed into military service in Britain and others in Australia during World War II, mostly as communications aircraft. Only a few managed to survive six years of hard usage although a small number were still airworthy seventy years after the last was completed. Six remained operational in the U.K. in 2009.

Military operators

 Belgian Congo
  • Force Publique - Aviation militaire de la Force publique. First aircraft (C-1) entered service 9 October 1940.
  •  Germany
  • Luftwaffe (small numbers)
  •  India
  • Royal Indian Air Force
  •  Netherlands
  • Dutch Army Aviation Group
  •  Portugal
  • Portuguese Air Force
  •  South Africa
  • South African Air Force
  •  Southern Rhodesia
  • Southern Rhodesian Air Force - One aircraft only.
  •  Spain
  • Spanish Air Force
  •  Straits Settlements
  • Malayan Volunteer Air Force
  •  United Kingdom
  • Royal Air Force - a number of former civil aircraft impressed into service as communications and liaison aircraft during the Second World War.
  • Royal Navy - at least one former civil aircraft impressed into service.
  •  Kingdom of Yugoslavia
  • Royal Yugoslav Air Force - One aircraft only.
  • Airline Operators

     India
  • Air India
  • Specifications (DH.85)

    Data from De Havilland Aircraft since 1909

    General characteristics

  • Crew: 1, pilot
  • Capacity: 2 passengers
  • Length: 24 ft 6 in (7.47 m)
  • Wingspan: 37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m)
  • Wing area: 206 ft2 (19.1 m2)
  • Empty weight: 1,290 lb (586 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 2,225 lb (1,011 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × de Havilland Gipsy Major 4-cylinder air-cooled inverted straight engine, 130 hp (97 kW)
  • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 137 mph (119 knots, 221 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 119 mph (103 knots, 192 km/h)
  • Range: 715 mi (622 nmi, 1,151 km)
  • Service ceiling: 21,500 ft (6,560 m)
  • Rate of climb: 550 ft/min (2.8 m/s)
  • References

    De Havilland Leopard Moth Wikipedia


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