de Havilland DH.15 Gazelle
de Havilland Aircraft Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1921 · reconnaissance aircraft
The de Havilland DH.15 Gazelle was an engine testbed for the Galloway Atlantic engine, converted from a standard de Havilland DH.9A for flight trials in 1919 and 1920. Only one was built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.12 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single DH.9A converted as an engine testbed, 1919 to 1920, with the original armament retained
- 500 hp Galloway Atlantic water-cooled V-12 behind a large rectangular radiator
- Longer exhaust pipes running back along the sides of the engine to the observer cockpit
Looks much like a DH.9A, a two-seat tractor biplane with a large rectangular radiator. The exhaust pipes are longer than usual and run straight back from the engine to the observer cockpit.
Specifications
- The de Havilland DH.15 Gazelle has a length of 9.12 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 224 km/h (139 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
A standard DH.9A, complete with its original armament, was converted to take the 500 hp Galloway Atlantic water-cooled V-12 in place of the 400 hp Liberty 12. Two DH.15s were ordered, but only one was built. It completed many flights with the Atlantic engine from 1919 to 1920.
Variants
Only one aircraft was built.
Where you'll see it
Used purely for engine trials. It never carried passengers or entered airline service.
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