de Havilland DH.86 Express
de Havilland · United Kingdom · first flew 1934 · airliner
The de Havilland DH.86 Express was a four-engine biplane airliner built for Imperial Airways and Australian routes requiring long over-water stages. It bridged the gap between the smaller DH.84 Dragon and the company's later monoplane designs.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Narrow streamlined fuselage with enclosed passenger cabin |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Four-engine inter-war British biplane airliner
- Tapered lower wing significantly larger than upper
- Narrow streamlined fuselage with enclosed passenger cabin
Four inline engines mounted between biplane wings of noticeably unequal chord, a narrow streamlined fuselage, and the typical de Havilland inter-war aesthetic of clean wooden construction distinguish the DH.86.
Specifications
- The de Havilland DH.86 Express has a length of 14.05 m (46 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 19.66 m (65 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 266 km/h (165 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 + 10 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed to meet a requirement for a fast biplane capable of the Singapore–Australia route, the DH.86 first flew in January 1934. Imperial Airways, Qantas, and several other operators used the type. Its four de Havilland Gipsy Six engines gave reasonable reliability for the era.
Variants
The DH.86A added a second pilot position and improved nose; the DH.86B introduced larger tail surfaces for better control. A total of 62 were built.
Where you'll see it
Served with Imperial Airways on European and Empire routes, Qantas on the Australia run, and various other Commonwealth operators. Several were impressed into RAF service during World War II for communications duties.
Related aircraft
- de Havilland DH.87 Hornet Moth
- de Havilland Dominie
- de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth
- de Havilland DH.94 Moth Minor
- DC-2
- Fokker F.XXXVI
- Junkers Ju 160
- Martin M-130
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