Airco DH.9C

The Airco DH.9C was a British passenger aircraft.

Development and design

After WW1 there were many surplus Airco DH.9 light bombers, designed by Geoffrey de Havilland, available for the emerging air transport business. At first stripped DH.9s were used to carry one passenger behind the pilot in the gunner's position, but later versions, designated DH.9B added a second passenger seat ahead of the pilot. A second seat behind the pilot was added by extending the rear cockpit in the early DH.9C. Later DH.9Cs had this rear position converted to hold two passengers face to face, protected by a faired dorsal canopy or cabin. Most of these later four seat aircraft had slight sweepback to counter the rearward shift in the centre of gravity. [Jackson pp121-35]

The DH.9, DH.9B and DH.9C were dimensionally similar, with the same span and height and only small variations in length depending on the powerplant. They were two bay tractor biplanes, with fixed two wheel main and tail-skid undercarriage. Their structures were of spruce and ash, wire braced and fabric covered.

The first four seat, swept DH.9C, "G-EAYT" received its C of A on 13th Jan, 1922 [Jackson p.133] .

Operational history

Nineteen aircraft were produced for operators, 13 in the UK, 3 in Australia, and 3 in Spain. The last in service was operated by Northern Air Lines in Barton, Greater Manchester until 1932.cite book |last= Sharpe |first= Michael |title=Biplanes, Triplanes, and Seaplanes |year=2000 |publisher=Friedman/Fairfax Books |location=London |pages= p.25|isbn=1-58663-300-7]

Operators

"Information from" [Jackson pp. 132-5] ;AUS
*QUANTAS (3 aircraft);BEL
*SNÉTA (precursor to SABENA) (1 aircraft) ;NED
*K.L.M.(1 aircraft);ESP
*Espanola del Trafico Aero (3 aircraft);UK
*The de Havilland Aeroplane Hire Service [Jackson pp.20-2] (7 aircraft)
*Northern Air Lines (2 aircraft)

pecifications

aerospecs
ref= [Jackson p. 130]

met or eng?=eng

crew=1
capacity=4 (3 passengers)
length m=9.30
length ft=30
length in=6
span m=12.92
span ft=42
span in=4⁵/₈
height m=3.40
height ft=11
height in=2
wing area sqm=40.3
wing area sqft=434
empty weight kg=1,179
empty weight lb=2,600
gross weight kg=1,497
gross weight lb=3,300

eng1 number=1
eng1 type=Siddeley Puma
eng1 kw=335
eng1 hp=450
eng2 number=
eng2 type=
eng2 kw=
eng2 hp=

max speed kmh=185
max speed mph=115
max speed mach=
cruise speed kmh=153
cruise speed mph=95
stall speed kmh=
stall speed mph=
range km=9665
range miles=500
endurance h=
endurance min=
ceiling m=5790
ceiling ft=19,000
climb rate ms=3.35
climb rate ftmin=660

ee also

aircontent
see also=
related=
*Airco DH.9
*Airco DH.9A
*Airco DH.9B
similar aircraft=
lists=

References

*Jackson, A.J. "De Havilland aircraft since 1909". London: Putnam Publishing Co. Ltd, 1978 ISBN 0-370-30022-X

External Links