The DH.83 Fox Moth is a 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, tailplane, fin, rudder and wings were identical to those of the de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth, then being built in large quantities. These are fitted to a purpose-built fuselage, which has a plywood covering over (longerons which are ash forward of the pilot and Sitka spruce aft. The pilot sits in a raised cockpit behind the small enclosed passenger cabin, which was usually fitted with three seats for short-range flights. The "Speed Model" was fitted with a canopy and fairing. The wings could be folded for storage.
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.[1] "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.[1] British-based aircraft were mostly used on short-haul joyrides or as feeder flights around the British Isles. The DH.83 Fox Moth was the first aircraft to earn a profit in commercial airline service without subsidies.[citation needed]
Total production of the DH.83/DHC.83C Fox Moth was 153; 98 in England, two in Australia and 53 in Canada after WWII.[3] A number of different engines were used, including the 130 hp (97 kW) Gipsy IIIA on most British-built aircraft and the 145 hp (108 kW) Gipsy Major 1C on the 53 postwar DH.83C Canadian-built aircraft. The DHC-83Cs 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 landing gear. The DH.83C was an excellent and economical bush plane.
Variantsedit
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 150 hp (112 kW) Gasuden Jimpu 3 radial engine. The first prototype, J-BBJI named Chidorigo (Plover) flew on 23 December 1933. Seven KR-1s were built.[4]
Gasuden KR-2: The KR-1 design with modified wings and other tweaks
de Havilland Fox Moth G-ACEJ which is now operating out of Germany
DH.83 G-ACEJ was active in the UK in 2010, but since 2015 has been registered in Munich, Germany, regularly appearing at displays and meetings (still with its UK civil reg). The aircraft received attention in the 1957 British Transport Films production Holiday, taking off from Blackpool Beach whilst undergoing pleasure flights.
DH.83C G-AOJH
ZK-ADI active in New Zealand in 2016
ZK-AGM active in New Zealand in 2019 after rebuild in UK
ZK-APT active in New Zealand in 2019
ZK-AQB active in New Zealand in 2020
DH.83 VH-UJJ ex-G-ACEB active in Australia in 2009
C-FYPM ex-ZK-AEK active in Canada in 2018
VH-UVL active in Australia in 2018
C-FDIX Under restoration to airworthy condition at Buffalo Airways by Buffalo Joe McBryan and the PLANE SAVERS! crew in Yellowknife, NWT, Canada with the aim of having it flying by the spring of 2020.
VH-UUS Under restoration at MothCair by Greg Challinor, Murwillumbah NSW, Australia
Specifications (DH.83)edit
De Havilland DH.83 3-view drawing from NACA-AC-162
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The DH 83 Fox Moth is a 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 DH 83 Fox Moth Fox Moth in flight at Fenland Airfield 2012 Role Passenger aircraft Manufacturer de Havilland Designer A E Hagg First flight 29 January 1932 Introduction 1932 Number built 155 The aircraft was designed late in 1931 as a low cost and economical light passenger aircraft Many components including the engine tailplane fin rudder and wings were identical to those of the de Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth then being built in large quantities These are fitted to a purpose built fuselage which has a plywood covering over longerons which are ash forward of the pilot and Sitka spruce aft The pilot sits in a raised cockpit behind the small enclosed passenger cabin which was usually fitted with three seats for short range flights The Speed Model was fitted with a canopy and fairing The wings could be folded for storage Contents 1 Operational history 2 Variants 3 Operators 3 1 Military 3 2 Civilian 4 Survivors 5 Specifications DH 83 6 See also 7 References 8 Bibliography 9 External linksOperational history edit nbsp 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 1 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 1 British based aircraft were mostly used on short haul joyrides or as feeder flights around the British Isles The DH 83 Fox Moth was the first aircraft to earn a profit in commercial airline service without subsidies citation needed 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 2 Total production of the DH 83 DHC 83C Fox Moth was 153 98 in England two in Australia and 53 in Canada after WWII 3 A number of different engines were used including the 130 hp 97 kW Gipsy IIIA on most British built aircraft and the 145 hp 108 kW Gipsy Major 1C on the 53 postwar DH 83C Canadian built aircraft The DHC 83Cs 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 landing gear The DH 83C was an excellent and economical bush plane Variants editDH 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 150 hp 112 kW Gasuden Jimpu 3 radial engine The first prototype J BBJI named Chidorigo Plover flew on 23 December 1933 Seven KR 1s were built 4 Gasuden KR 2 The KR 1 design with modified wings and other tweaksOperators edit nbsp ZK ADI Air Travel NZ 1934 Military edit nbsp Australia Royal Australian Air Force nbsp Brazil Brazilian Air Force Brazilian Naval Aviation nbsp Canada Royal Canadian Air Force nbsp New Zealand Royal New Zealand Air Force No 42 Squadron RNZAF nbsp South Africa South African Air Force nbsp Spain Spanish Republican Air Force nbsp Spanish State Spanish Air Force nbsp United Kingdom Fleet Air Arm 5 nbsp Yugoslavia Royal Yugoslav Air Force 6 Civilian edit nbsp Australia Adastra Airlines Tasmanian Aerial Services nbsp British Raj Tata Airlines nbsp Canada Wardair Canada nbsp New Zealand Air Travel NZ Ltd later National Airways Corporation operated three aircraft nbsp United Kingdom Blackpool and West Coast Air Services Giro Aviation Hillman s Airways 7 Midland amp Scottish Air Ferries North West Air Services Northern amp Scottish Airways Olley Air Service Provincial Airways Scottish Motor Traction nbsp Yugoslavia Aeroput 6 Survivors edit nbsp de Havilland Fox Moth G ACEJ which is now operating out of Germany DH 83 G ACEJ was active in the UK in 2010 but since 2015 has been registered in Munich Germany regularly appearing at displays and meetings still with its UK civil reg The aircraft received attention in the 1957 British Transport Films production Holiday taking off from Blackpool Beach whilst undergoing pleasure flights DH 83C G AOJH ZK ADI active in New Zealand in 2016 ZK AGM active in New Zealand in 2019 after rebuild in UK ZK APT active in New Zealand in 2019 ZK AQB active in New Zealand in 2020 DH 83 VH UJJ ex G ACEB active in Australia in 2009 C FYPM ex ZK AEK active in Canada in 2018 VH UVL active in Australia in 2018 C FDIX Under restoration to airworthy condition at Buffalo Airways by Buffalo Joe McBryan and the PLANE SAVERS crew in Yellowknife NWT Canada with the aim of having it flying by the spring of 2020 VH UUS Under restoration at MothCair by Greg Challinor Murwillumbah NSW AustraliaSpecifications DH 83 edit nbsp De Havilland DH 83 3 view drawing from NACA AC 162 Data from De Havilland Aircraft since 1909 8 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 3 4 Length 25 ft 9 in 7 85 m Wingspan 30 ft 10 5 8 in 9 41 m Height 8 ft 9 1 2 in 2 68 m Wing area 261 5 sq ft 24 29 m2 Airfoil RAF 15 9 Empty weight 1 071 lb 486 kg Max takeoff weight 2 000 lb 907 kg Powerplant 1 de Havilland Gipsy III 4 cylinder air cooled inverted in line piston engine 120 hp 89 kW Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propeller Performance Maximum speed 106 mph 171 km h 92 kn Cruise speed 91 mph 146 km h 79 kn Range 425 mi 684 km 369 nmi Service ceiling 12 700 ft 3 900 m Rate of climb 450 ft min 2 3 m s See also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Letov S 19 Related lists List of aircraft of the Spanish Republican Air ForceReferences edit a b Jackson 1987 p 322 Jackson 1987 pp 324 325 Jackson 1987 p 327 Mikesh and Abe 1990 p 88 Fillmore Air Britain Archive Autumn 2011 p 118 a b Fillmore Air Britain Archive Autumn 2011 p 107 Arthur 1992 p 23 Jackson 1987 p 326 Lednicer David The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage m selig ae illinois edu Retrieved 16 April 2019 Bibliography editArthur Robin 1992 Pre War Airliner Fleets I Hillman s Airways Ltd Archive No 1 Air Britain pp 23 24 ISSN 0262 4923 Fillmore Malcolm Autumn 2011 The Whole Truth The DH 83 Fox Moth Part 1 Air Britain Archive No 3 pp 103 120 ISSN 0262 4923 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 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to De Havilland DH 83 Fox Moth The de Havilland Moth Club Those Kiwi Moths Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title De Havilland Fox Moth amp oldid 1190624694, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
