Time Period: World War I
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Type: Biplane, Trainer Aircraft
Manufacturer: Airco
Airco DH.6 Aircraft Overview
The Airco DH.6 was a two-seat biplane trainer aircraft designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and built by the Aircraft Manufacturing Company (Airco) during World War I. It was introduced in 1916 and was used primarily for training pilots and observers.
The DH.6 featured a wooden frame and was powered by a 90-horsepower RAF 1a air-cooled engine. It was armed with a single .303 inch (7.7 mm) Lewis machine gun mounted on a flexible mount in the observer’s cockpit.
The DH.6 had a top speed of around 83 mph (134 km/h) and a range of around 3.5 hours. It was widely used by the Royal Flying Corps and later the Royal Air Force, with a total of around 2,300 DH.6 aircraft built.
The DH.6 was a popular and reliable trainer aircraft, and many pilots learned to fly on the type. After World War I, many surplus DH.6 aircraft were sold to civilian operators and were used for a variety of roles, including air taxi and mail delivery.
Overall, the DH.6 played an important role in the development of aviation during World War I, and helped pave the way for the further advancements in aircraft design and technology that would follow in the years to come.
Airco DH.6 Specifications
- Crew: As trainer: two, pilot and instructor. As patrol aircraft: One. As postwar joy-riding aircraft: up to three pilots plus one or two passengers.
- Length: 27 ft 3+1⁄2 in (8.319 m)
- Wingspan: 35 ft 11 in (10.95 m)
- Height: 10 ft 9+1⁄2 in (3.289 m)
- Wing area: 436.25 sq ft (40.529 m2)
- Empty weight: 1,460 lb (662 kg)
- Gross weight: 2,030 lb (921 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 25 imp gal (30 US gal; 110 L).
- Powerplant: 1 × RAF 1a air-cooled V8 engine, 90 hp (67 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed wood fixed pitch propeller.
Airco DH.6 Performance
- Maximum speed: 70 mph (110 km/h, 61 kn)
- Stall speed: 40 mph (64 km/h, 35 kn)
- Endurance: 2 hr 45 min
- Rate of climb: 225 ft/min (1.14 m/s)
Airco DH.6 Armament
- Bombs: 1 × 100 lb (45 kg) bomb or similar load of smaller bombs could be carried on anti-submarine patrol.
