de Havilland DH.34
de Havilland Aircraft Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1922 · airliner
The de Havilland DH.34 was a British single-engine biplane airliner of the early 1920s, one of the first aircraft specifically designed for scheduled passenger services between Britain and the Continent. It featured an enclosed passenger cabin while the pilot remained in an open cockpit ahead of the wing.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Fabric-covered wooden biplane with a tall narrow fuselage typical of early 1920s airliners |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-engine biplane airliner with an enclosed cabin for up to nine passengers
- Large Napier Lion engine in an exposed nose installation
- Fabric-covered wooden biplane with a tall narrow fuselage typical of early 1920s airliners
A large single-engine biplane with the pilot in an exposed forward cockpit and a fully enclosed passenger saloon behind — the contrast between open pilot and closed cabin is a key visual marker.
Specifications
- The de Havilland DH.34 has a length of 11.89 m (39 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.65 m (51 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 206 km/h (128 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 (pilot in open cockpit) + 9 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The DH.34 entered service with Daimler Airway and Instone Air Line in 1922 on routes between London (Croydon) and Paris and Amsterdam. When Imperial Airways was formed in 1924, it absorbed these operators and operated the remaining DH.34s until they were retired in 1926.
Variants
No significant variants were produced; the DH.34 was a straightforward single-mark type superseded by the larger DH.66 Hercules and DH.50 families.
Where you'll see it
Operated on early UK-Europe scheduled services by Daimler Airway, Instone Air Line, and subsequently Imperial Airways from 1922 to 1926; a genuinely British pioneer of commercial aviation.
Related aircraft
- de Havilland DH.27 Derby
- de Havilland DH.15 Gazelle
- de Havilland DH.50
- de Havilland DH.53 Humming Bird
- Handley Page W.8b
- Blériot 115
- Caproni Ca.60 Transaereo
- Caudron C.61
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