de Havilland DH.103 Hornet
de Havilland · United Kingdom · first flew 1944 · fighter
The Hornet was a twin-engined, single-seat piston fighter built by de Havilland using Mosquito-style wooden construction.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.82 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin Merlin engines in wing nacelles, in effect a small single-seat Mosquito
- Single-seat cockpit well forward under a bubble canopy
- Propellers turning in opposite directions on each side
Look for a compact twin-engined fighter with a single-seat bubble canopy far forward and the distinctive de Havilland tail shape.
Specifications
- The de Havilland DH.103 Hornet has a length of 10.82 m (35 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.72 m (45 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 764 km/h (475 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It began as a private venture in 1941 as a long-range fighter for the Pacific war. The first prototype flew on 28 July 1944, piloted by Geoffrey de Havilland Jr.
Variants
The Hornet served with the RAF and, as the Sea Hornet, was a carrier-capable version for the Fleet Air Arm.
Where you'll see it
It equipped RAF Fighter Command day-fighter units and was used as a strike fighter in the Malayan Emergency. 383 were built between 1945 and 1950, and it retired in 1956.
Related aircraft
- de Havilland Mosquito NF Mk 30
- de Havilland Devon
- de Havilland Devon C.2
- de Havilland Mosquito PR Mk XVI
- Arado E.580
- Bell XP-77
- Blohm & Voss BV 155
- Blohm & Voss BV 40
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