Airco DH.4
Airco · United Kingdom · first flew 1916 · bomber
The Airco DH.4 was a British WWI two-seat day bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, noted for its high performance and wide pilot-observer cockpit separation that earned it the nickname 'Flaming Coffin' among American crews.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.35 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- WWI two-bay biplane day bomber
- Pilot and observer in widely-separated cockpits
- Single rotary or inline engine in nose
A two-bay biplane with notably wide-spaced cockpits; the large gap between pilot and observer is the most distinctive recognition feature.
Specifications
- The Airco DH.4 has a length of 9.35 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.92 m (42 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 230 km/h (143 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Geoffrey de Havilland, it entered service with the RFC in 1917 and was also built in large numbers in the United States for the American Expeditionary Forces. It was one of the fastest aircraft of the war.
Variants
Numerous engine variants were fitted including the Rolls-Royce Eagle, BHP, and the American Liberty engine in US-built DH-4s; post-war civil conversions were common.
Where you'll see it
Served with the RFC, RAF, RNAS, and USAS during WWI; US-built examples remained in service with the US Army Air Service into the 1920s.
Related aircraft
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