de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth
de Havilland · United Kingdom · first flew 1933 · light aircraft
The de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth was an enclosed three-seat high-wing touring monoplane that replaced the open DH.83 Fox Moth biplane in de Havilland's private-owner range, offering comfort and speed for the wealthy 1930s aviator.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.47 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Three-seat cabin biplane's successor — a high-wing cabin monoplane with folding wings
- Enclosed cabin seating pilot and two side-by-side passengers, rare for 1930s touring
- Distinctive inverted gull leading edge giving a slight cranked appearance to the high wing
Clean high-wing monoplane with a fully enclosed three-seat cabin, a tapered wing with folding capability, a neat de Havilland Gipsy Major engine under a long cowling, and a fixed tailwheel undercarriage with large spats.
Specifications
- The de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth has a length of 7.47 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.28 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 222 km/h (138 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 + 2 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in May 1933, the Leopard Moth attracted buyers who wanted the practicality of a cabin monoplane over the open-cockpit biplanes of the era. Several were used for long-distance record flights, and the type saw service in the early years of the Second World War with the RAF and Commonwealth air forces for communications duties.
Variants
The DH.85 was produced in a single main variant; a number were impressed into RAF service as communications aircraft during the war, often retaining their civil registration markings.
Where you'll see it
Sold primarily to private owners and air taxi operators across Britain and the Empire; a handful survive airworthy in preservation today.
Related aircraft
- de Havilland DH.86 Express
- de Havilland DH.87 Hornet Moth
- de Havilland Dominie
- Tiger Moth
- Beriev MP-1
- British Aircraft Swallow
- Cessna CR-3
- Farman F.400
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