Development and Design
The DH-87 Hornet Moth emerged from De Havilland's desire to create an affordable enclosed-cabin aircraft for the growing private pilot market of the mid-1930s. Chief designer Arthur Hagg developed the aircraft as a natural progression from the company's successful DH-60 Moth series, incorporating lessons learned from nearly a decade of light aircraft production. The design prioritized economy of operation while maintaining the reliable flying characteristics that had made De Havilland synonymous with training and touring aircraft.
The aircraft featured a high-wing configuration with fabric-covered steel tube construction, a design approach that kept manufacturing costs reasonable while providing adequate strength. Unlike its open-cockpit predecessors, the Hornet Moth offered pilots and passengers the comfort of an enclosed cabin with side-by-side seating, making it particularly appealing for cross-country touring.
Technical Specifications
Powered by the proven De Havilland Gipsy Major four-cylinder inverted inline engine producing 130 horsepower, the Hornet Moth achieved a cruise speed of approximately 105 miles per hour. The aircraft's 31-foot wingspan and overall length of 25 feet provided stable flight characteristics while maintaining compact dimensions suitable for smaller airfields. With a service ceiling of 16,000 feet and a range of nearly 400 miles, the type offered respectable performance for recreational flying.
The landing gear was of conventional tailwheel configuration, with the main gear retracting backward into wing-mounted fairings - an unusual feature for aircraft in this class during the 1930s. This retractable gear system contributed to the aircraft's relatively clean aerodynamics and enhanced cruise performance.
Production and Service
De Havilland manufactured the DH-87 Hornet Moth at their Hatfield facility from 1935 to 1938, producing approximately 165 examples. The aircraft found favor among flying clubs and private owners throughout Britain and the Commonwealth countries, where its economical operation and docile handling made it an ideal stepping stone from basic trainers to more complex aircraft.
Several variants were produced during the type's brief production run, including models with different engine installations and minor equipment variations. Export versions were delivered to operators in Australia, South Africa, and other Commonwealth nations, where they served in both private and commercial roles.
The De Havilland Company
The De Havilland Aircraft Company, founded in 1920 by Geoffrey de Havilland, had established itself as Britain's premier manufacturer of light aircraft by the time the Hornet Moth entered production. The company's Hatfield works had produced thousands of DH-60 Moths and their derivatives, creating a global network of operators familiar with De Havilland products. This reputation for reliability and supportability proved crucial to the Hornet Moth's market acceptance.
De Havilland continued operations at Hatfield through the 1990s, producing everything from light aircraft to jet airliners and military fighters. The company was eventually absorbed into larger aerospace conglomerates, with various divisions continuing under different ownership structures.
Operational History
While the Hornet Moth never achieved the widespread adoption of its open-cockpit predecessors, it served reliably in civilian roles throughout the late 1930s. Several examples were impressed into military service during World War II, primarily serving as communication and liaison aircraft with Royal Air Force units.
The type's retractable landing gear, while innovative, proved to be both a selling point and a source of maintenance complexity that some operators found challenging. This mechanical sophistication, combined with the aircraft's higher purchase price compared to fixed-gear alternatives, limited its market penetration during an era when economy remained paramount for most private operators.
Legacy and Survivors
Production of the DH-87 Hornet Moth ceased in 1938 as De Havilland focused resources on more pressing military contracts. The outbreak of World War II effectively ended the market for touring aircraft, and the company never resumed Hornet Moth production in the postwar period.
Today, fewer than a dozen examples of the DH-87 are known to survive, with only a handful remaining in airworthy condition. Several can be found in aviation museums, including examples at the Royal Air Force Museum and the Shuttleworth Collection in England. The type represents an interesting footnote in aviation history - a technically advanced design that arrived at precisely the wrong moment in history to achieve commercial success.