de Havilland DH.16
Airco · United Kingdom · first flew 1919 · airliner
The de Havilland DH.16 was an early British commercial airliner of 1919, converted from the wartime DH.9A bomber airframe to carry four passengers in an enclosed cabin while the pilot sat in an open cockpit ahead. It inaugurated some of the earliest European scheduled air services.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.68 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Early British commercial biplane derived from DH.9A with enclosed passenger cabin
- Single Rolls-Royce Eagle engine in nose, four passengers in enclosed cabin
- One of the first aircraft operated on the London–Paris scheduled service
A biplane with the characteristic DH.9A wing and tail but with a deepened centre-fuselage section housing the passenger cabin. The open pilot's cockpit ahead of the enclosed cabin is a distinctive feature.
Specifications
- The de Havilland DH.16 has a length of 9.68 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.15 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 219 km/h (136 mph).
- Typical crew: 1 pilot + 4 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Produced rapidly after the Armistice to meet demand for civil aviation, the DH.16 entered service with Aircraft Transport and Travel (AT&T) in 1919. On 25 August 1919 it operated one of the world's first daily international scheduled services between London (Hounslow) and Paris, marking a significant milestone in commercial aviation history.
Variants
Only nine aircraft were built; no significant variants.
Where you'll see it
Operated by Aircraft Transport and Travel and Handley Page Transport on the London–Paris and other European routes in 1919–1920; withdrawn as larger types became available.
Related aircraft
- Airco DH.11 Oxford
- Airco DH.10 Amiens
- Airco DH.9C
- Airco DH.3
- Farman F.60 Goliath
- Farman F.61 Goliath
- Farman F.68 Goliath
- Handley Page Type W
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