Airco DH.18

Airco / de Havilland · United Kingdom · first flew 1920 · airliner

The Airco DH.18 was a single-engine biplane designed specifically for passenger airline service, operating on the early London–Paris routes from 1920. Its pusher engine arrangement gave passengers an enclosed nose cabin with good forward views.

Recognition (WEFT)

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

• Biplane single-engine 8-passenger early British airliner
• Pusher engine layout with engine behind the cockpit
• Passengers seated in an enclosed cabin, pilot in open cockpit ahead

A biplane with an unusual pusher engine — the Eagle engine mounted behind the pilot's open cockpit drives a pusher propeller, while passengers sit in an enclosed fuselage nose ahead of the wings — a configuration that looks backwards at a glance.

Specifications

• The Airco DH.18 has a length of 11.89 m (39 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 15.62 m (51 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 209 km/h (130 mph).
• Typical crew: 1 + 8.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in February 1920, the DH.18 was one of the first purpose-built British airliners and inaugurated regular scheduled services from Croydon to Paris with Aircraft Transport and Travel. Only six were built due to the economic climate, and the type was succeeded by the improved DH.34. It demonstrated the commercial potential of scheduled European air services.

Variants

The DH.18A and DH.18B were minor variants with detail improvements; only six aircraft total were completed across all versions.

Where you'll see it

Operated by Aircraft Transport and Travel (later Daimler Airway) on London–Paris and London–Brussels routes from 1920 to 1922.

Related aircraft

• Airco DH.9
• Avro 547
• Blériot 71
• Blériot-SPAD S.33
• Bristol Tourer

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