In the early 1920s, Geoffrey de Havilland realised that war surplus aircraft would need replacing, so his company designed a four-passenger-cabin biplane, the DH.50, using experience gained with the earlier de Havilland DH.9. The first DH.50 (registered G-EBFN) flew in August 1923 and was used within a few days by Alan Cobham to win a prize for reliability during trial flights between Copenhagen and Gothenburg. Only 17 aircraft were built by de Havilland; the rest were produced under licence. The different aircraft had a wide variety of engine fits.
In 1924, Cobham won the King's Cup Race air race in G-EBFN averaging 106 mph (171 km/h). Cobham made several long-range flights with the prototype until he replaced it with the second aircraft. The second aircraft (registered G-EBFO) was re-engined with the Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar engine and was designated the DH.50J. Cobham flew the aircraft on a 16,000 mi (25,750 km) flight from Croydon Airport to Cape Town between November 1925 and February 1926. The aircraft was later fitted with twin floats (produced by Short Brothers at Rochester) for a survey flight of Australia in 1926. On the outward flight from England to Australia, Cobham's engineer (A.B. Elliot) was shot and killed when they were overflying the desert between Baghdad and Basra. He was replaced by Sergeant Ward, a Royal Air Force engineer who was given permission to join the flight by his commanding officer. Also in 1926, a DH.50A floatplane was used in the first international flight made by the Royal Australian Air Force. The Chief of the Air Staff, Group CaptainRichard Williams, and two crew members undertook a three-month, 10,000 mi (16,093 km) round trip from Point Cook, Victoria to the Pacific Islands.[1]
Licence productionedit
The aircraft was popular in Australia and de Havilland licensed its production there, leading to 16 aircraft being built. Qantas built four DH.50As and three DH.50Js, Western Australian Airlines built three DH.50As, and Larkin Aircraft Supply Company built one DH.50A.[2]SABCA built three Puma-engined DH.50As in Brussels, Belgium for use by SABENA on routes in the Belgian Congo. The last one survived until 1937.[3]Aero built seven in Prague, then in Czechoslovakia.[4] The British-built QANTAS DH.50 (G-AUER/VH-UER) was modified in Longreach, Queensland, to suit the Australian Inland Mission as an aerial ambulance. The aircraft was called Victory by the Rev. J Flynn and was the first aircraft used by the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia.
Variantsedit
DH.50 : Single-engined light transport biplane.
DH.50A Bell Bird (G-AUEK)
DH.50A : Powered by one 240 hp (179 kW) Siddeley Puma inline engine.
DH.50J : The Australian-built Qantas fleet were powered by one 450 hp (287 kW) Bristol Jupiter Mk IV radial engine. Other radial engines were fitted in other aircraft in the DH50J series.[5]
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft. Orbis Publishing. (part work 1982–85)
Crook, John (1997). Air Transport the First Fifty Years. The Archive Photographs Series. Stroud: Chalford. p. 21. ISBN0-7524-0790-2.
Grant, James Ritchie. "Anti-Clockwise: Australia the Wrong Way". Air Enthusiast, No. 82, July–August 1999, pp. 60–63. ISSN 0143-5450
Gunn, John (1985). The Defeat of Distance: Qantas 1919–1939. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press. ISBN978-0702217074.
Jackson, A. J. (1973). British Civil Aircraft since 1919. Vol. 2. London: Putnam. ISBN0-370-10010-7.
Jackson, A. J. (1987). De Havilland Aircraft since 1909 (Second ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN0-85177-802-X.
Kucera, Pavel (August 1990). "Czech fifties — Part 1". Aeroplane Monthly. Vol. 18, no. 8. pp. 490–493. ISSN 0143-7240.
Kucera, Pavel (September 1990). "Czech fifties — Part 2". Aeroplane Monthly. Vol. 18, no. 9. pp. 551–553. ISSN 0143-7240.
Prins, François (Spring 1994). "Pioneering Spirit: The QANTAS Story". Air Enthusiast. No. 53. pp. 24–32. ISSN 0143-5450.
Stephens, Alan (2006) [2001]. The Royal Australian Air Force: A History. London: Oxford University Press. pp. 39–41. ISBN0-19-555541-4.
Stroud, John (January 1988). "Wings of Peace". Aeroplane Monthly. Vol. 16, no. 1. pp. 41–46. ISSN 0143-7240.
Wilson, Stewart (1994). Military Aircraft of Australia. Weston Creek: Aerospace Publications. p. 216. ISBN1875671080.
"A New De Havilland Commercial Aeroplane". Flight. Vol. XV, no. 32. 9 August 1923. pp. 473–477. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to De Havilland DH.50.
April 26, 2024
havilland, 1920s, british, large, single, engined, biplane, transport, built, havilland, stag, lane, aerodrome, edgware, licence, built, australia, belgium, czechoslovakia, qantas, role, transport, biplanemanufacturer, havillandfirst, flight, july, 1923introdu. The de Havilland DH 50 was a 1920s British large single engined biplane transport built by de Havilland at Stag Lane Aerodrome Edgware and licence built in Australia Belgium and Czechoslovakia DH 50A DH 50J of Qantas Role Transport biplaneManufacturer de HavillandFirst flight 30 July 1923Introduction 1923Retired 1942Primary users QantasImperial AirwaysNumber built 38 Contents 1 History 1 1 Licence production 2 Variants 3 Operators 4 Specifications DH 50 with Puma engine 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 Bibliography 7 External linksHistory editIn the early 1920s Geoffrey de Havilland realised that war surplus aircraft would need replacing so his company designed a four passenger cabin biplane the DH 50 using experience gained with the earlier de Havilland DH 9 The first DH 50 registered G EBFN flew in August 1923 and was used within a few days by Alan Cobham to win a prize for reliability during trial flights between Copenhagen and Gothenburg Only 17 aircraft were built by de Havilland the rest were produced under licence The different aircraft had a wide variety of engine fits In 1924 Cobham won the King s Cup Race air race in G EBFN averaging 106 mph 171 km h Cobham made several long range flights with the prototype until he replaced it with the second aircraft The second aircraft registered G EBFO was re engined with the Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar engine and was designated the DH 50J Cobham flew the aircraft on a 16 000 mi 25 750 km flight from Croydon Airport to Cape Town between November 1925 and February 1926 The aircraft was later fitted with twin floats produced by Short Brothers at Rochester for a survey flight of Australia in 1926 On the outward flight from England to Australia Cobham s engineer A B Elliot was shot and killed when they were overflying the desert between Baghdad and Basra He was replaced by Sergeant Ward a Royal Air Force engineer who was given permission to join the flight by his commanding officer Also in 1926 a DH 50A floatplane was used in the first international flight made by the Royal Australian Air Force The Chief of the Air Staff Group Captain Richard Williams and two crew members undertook a three month 10 000 mi 16 093 km round trip from Point Cook Victoria to the Pacific Islands 1 Licence production edit The aircraft was popular in Australia and de Havilland licensed its production there leading to 16 aircraft being built Qantas built four DH 50As and three DH 50Js Western Australian Airlines built three DH 50As and Larkin Aircraft Supply Company built one DH 50A 2 SABCA built three Puma engined DH 50As in Brussels Belgium for use by SABENA on routes in the Belgian Congo The last one survived until 1937 3 Aero built seven in Prague then in Czechoslovakia 4 The British built QANTAS DH 50 G AUER VH UER was modified in Longreach Queensland to suit the Australian Inland Mission as an aerial ambulance The aircraft was called Victory by the Rev J Flynn and was the first aircraft used by the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia Variants editDH 50 Single engined light transport biplane nbsp DH 50A Bell Bird G AUEK DH 50A Powered by one 240 hp 179 kW Siddeley Puma inline engine DH 50J The Australian built Qantas fleet were powered by one 450 hp 287 kW Bristol Jupiter Mk IV radial engine Other radial engines were fitted in other aircraft in the DH50J series 5 Operators editAustraliaAustralian Aerial Services Ltd Holdens Air Transport nbsp Qantas DH 50J Atalanta VH UHE Qantas Rockhampton Aerial Services Ltd Royal Australian Air Force 2 West Australian Airlines LtdBelgiumSabenaCzechoslovakiaCSAIraqIraq Petroleum Transport Company LtdNew ZealandRoyal New Zealand Air ForceUnited KingdomAir Taxis Ltd Brooklands School of Flying Ltd Imperial Airways Ltd North Sea Aerial and General Transport Company Ltd Northern Air Lines LtdSpecifications DH 50 with Puma engine editData from De Havilland Aircraft since 1909 6 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 4 passengers Length 29 ft 9 in 9 07 m Wingspan 42 ft 9 in 13 03 m Height 11 ft 0 in 3 35 m Wing area 434 sq ft 40 3 m2 Empty weight 2 413 lb 1 095 kg Gross weight 4 200 lb 1 905 kg Powerplant 1 Siddeley Puma 6 cylinder water cooled in line piston engine 230 hp 170 kW Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 109 mph 175 km h 95 kn Cruise speed 95 mph 153 km h 83 kn Range 380 mi 610 km 330 nmi Service ceiling 14 600 ft 4 500 m Rate of climb 605 ft min 3 07 m s Wing loading 8 99 lb sq ft 43 9 kg m2 Power mass 0 059 hp lb 0 097 kW kg See also editRelated lists List of aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force List of aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and Royal New Zealand NavyReferences editNotes edit Stephens 2006 pp 39 41 a b Wilson 1994 p 216 Stroud 1988 p 43 Crook 1997 p 21 Gunn 1985 page needed Jackson 1987 p 190 Bibliography edit The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Orbis Publishing part work 1982 85 Crook John 1997 Air Transport the First Fifty Years The Archive Photographs Series Stroud Chalford p 21 ISBN 0 7524 0790 2 Grant James Ritchie Anti Clockwise Australia the Wrong Way Air Enthusiast No 82 July August 1999 pp 60 63 ISSN 0143 5450 Gunn John 1985 The Defeat of Distance Qantas 1919 1939 Brisbane University of Queensland Press ISBN 978 0702217074 Jackson A J 1973 British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Vol 2 London Putnam ISBN 0 370 10010 7 Jackson A J 1987 De Havilland Aircraft since 1909 Second ed London Putnam ISBN 0 85177 802 X Kucera Pavel August 1990 Czech fifties Part 1 Aeroplane Monthly Vol 18 no 8 pp 490 493 ISSN 0143 7240 Kucera Pavel September 1990 Czech fifties Part 2 Aeroplane Monthly Vol 18 no 9 pp 551 553 ISSN 0143 7240 Prins Francois Spring 1994 Pioneering Spirit The QANTAS Story Air Enthusiast No 53 pp 24 32 ISSN 0143 5450 Stephens Alan 2006 2001 The Royal Australian Air Force A History London Oxford University Press pp 39 41 ISBN 0 19 555541 4 Stroud John January 1988 Wings of Peace Aeroplane Monthly Vol 16 no 1 pp 41 46 ISSN 0143 7240 Wilson Stewart 1994 Military Aircraft of Australia Weston Creek Aerospace Publications p 216 ISBN 1875671080 A New De Havilland Commercial Aeroplane Flight Vol XV no 32 9 August 1923 pp 473 477 Retrieved 6 January 2024 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to De Havilland DH 50 A photograph of the float equipped DH 50S Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title De Havilland DH 50 amp oldid 1194039077, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
