Airco DH.9
Airco / de Havilland · United Kingdom · first flew 1917 · bomber
The Airco DH.9 was a British single-engine biplane day bomber introduced in 1917 as a replacement for the DH.4, but hampered by its unreliable BHP engine it was slower than its predecessor and suffered heavy losses on the Western Front.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.22 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-engine WWI biplane day bomber
- Observer's gun ring in rear cockpit
- BHP or Puma inline engine with car-type radiator
A classic two-bay WWI biplane with a distinctive car-type frontal radiator and inline engine — the DH.9 is slightly longer-nosed than the DH.4 and has a more upright crew seating arrangement.
Specifications
- The Airco DH.9 has a length of 9.22 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.92 m (42 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 179 km/h (111 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Despite its disappointing engine, over 3,200 DH.9s were built and it served with the RFC and RAF throughout 1918. The improved DH.9A, with an American Liberty engine, transformed the design into a capable bomber that continued in RAF service into the late 1920s and became a significant postwar export. The DH.9A saw action in numerous colonial campaigns.
Variants
The DH.9A (also known as the Ninak) used a 400 hp Liberty engine and was far more capable than the original; it became the RAF's standard day bomber in the 1920s.
Where you'll see it
Served with the RFC and RAF during World War I; the DH.9A continued with the RAF through the 1920s and was exported widely, serving with Australia, South Africa, and numerous other nations.
Related aircraft
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