de Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
de Havilland Aircraft Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1929 · light aircraft
The de Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth was a three-seat enclosed-cabin high-wing touring monoplane that became popular for long-distance private flying in the early 1930s. It featured folding wings for garage storage, a significant practical convenience.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.62 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High-wing enclosed cabin monoplane with folding wings
- Three-seat cabin tourer of the Golden Age
- Inverted inline de Havilland Gipsy engine
Recognised by its high-wing monoplane configuration with folding outer wing sections, inverted inline engine with a narrow cowling, and a fully enclosed three-seat cabin — more refined-looking than the biplane Moths of the same era.
Specifications
- The de Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth has a length of 7.62 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.21 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 204 km/h (127 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 + 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in September 1929, the Puss Moth gained fame through a series of notable long-distance flights including Jim Mollison's solo crossings of the North and South Atlantic. Around 259 were built and they served privately and with the military in communications roles. Its enclosed cabin was a major step forward in comfort over the open-cockpit Moths.
Variants
A single main production variant was built with minor detail changes; military communications examples were operated by several Commonwealth air forces.
Where you'll see it
Used privately worldwide and in small numbers by Commonwealth military and government operators for communications duties during World War II.
Related aircraft
- de Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth
- de Havilland DH.66 Hercules
- de Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
- de Havilland DH.56 Hyena
- ABC Robin
- Adcox Student Prince
- Aero A.34 Kos
- Aeronca C-2
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