de Havilland DH.93 Don

de Havilland · United Kingdom · first flew 1937 · light aircraft

The de Havilland DH.93 Don was a British multi-role three-seat training aircraft of the 1930s.

Recognition (WEFT)

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

Spot it by:

• Single-engined low-wing monoplane of wooden stressed-skin construction
• Pilot and instructor seated side by side up front
• Small auxiliary fins beneath the tailplane

A single-engined monoplane of wooden stressed-skin construction powered by a 525 hp Gipsy King inverted V-12. The prototype carried small auxiliary fins beneath the tailplane.

Specifications

• The de Havilland DH.93 Don has a length of 11.38 m (37 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 14.48 m (48 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 304 km/h (189 mph).
• Typical crew: 1.

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

History

It was designed to Air Ministry Specification T.6/36 as a trainer for pilots, radio operators and gunners, and the prototype first flew on 18 June 1937. A dorsal gun turret was removed from the prototype during trials to save weight.

Variants

The prototype was modified with small auxiliary fins beneath the tailplane, and further changes were incorporated from the fifth aircraft.

Where you'll see it

The type was judged unsuitable for training, so the order for 250 was cut to 50, of which 20 were delivered as engineless airframes for ground training. The rest served as communications aircraft with No. 24 Squadron and RAF station flights until early 1939.

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