De Havilland Don
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| DH.93 Don | |
|---|---|
 Prototype DH.93 in flight c. 1937 |
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| Type | Communications/Liaison |
| Manufacturer | De Havilland Aircraft Company |
| Maiden flight | 18 June 1937 |
| Introduced | 1938 |
| Retired | 1940 |
| Status | retired |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 30 (plus 20 unassembled airframes) |
The de Havilland DH.93 Don was a 1930s British multi-role three-seat training aircraft built by De Havilland Aircraft Company at Hatfield Aerodrome.
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[edit] Design and development
The Don was designed to meet Air Ministry Specification T.6/26 for a multi-role trainer and was a single-engined monoplane of wooden stressed-skin construction. The DH.93 Don was intended to be a trainer for pilots, radio operators and as a gunnery trainer. The gunnery requirement involved the mounting of a dorsal gun turret.
[edit] Operational history
The prototype (Serial Number L2387) first flew on 18 June 1937 and was transferred to RAF Martlesham Heath for official evaluation. In the course of the trials, more equipment was added which increased the weight, as a result, in an attempt to reduce weight, the dorsal turret was removed. The aircraft was also modified with small auxiliary fins fitted beneath the tailplane. [1]
Despite the changes incorporated from the fifth aircraft [1], the aircraft was deemed not suitable for training and the original order for 250 aircraft was reduced to only 50 aircraft, 20 of which were delivered as engineless airframes for ground training. [2] The remaining aircraft served as communications and liaison aircraft, serving with No. 24 Sqn and numerous Station Flights throughout the UK until early 1939, but all had been grounded for use as instructional airframes by the time the war began.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: 3
- Length: 37 ft 4 in (11.38 m)
- Wingspan: 47 ft 6 in (14.48 m)
- Height: 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)
- Wing area: 304 ft² (28.24 m²)
- Empty weight: 5,050 lb (2,291 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 6,860 lb (3,112 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× de Havilland Gipsy King inline piston engine, 525 hp (391 kw)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 189 mph (304 km/h)
- Range: 890 miles (1,432 km)
- Service ceiling 23,300 ft (7,100 m)
[edit] See also
Related lists
[edit] References
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1986. No ISBN.
- Jackson, A.J. De Havilland Aircraft Since 1915. London, Putnam, 1962. No ISBN.
[edit] External links
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