Airco DH.6
Airco · United Kingdom · first flew 1916 · light aircraft
The Airco DH.6 was a British primary training biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland in 1916, deliberately engineered to be forgiving and predictable for novice pilots. Its docile handling came at the cost of performance, making it one of the slowest aircraft in RAF service.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Slab-sided fabric fuselage with equal-span unswept wings |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- WWI British primary trainer biplane deliberately designed for docile handling
- Slab-sided fabric fuselage with equal-span unswept wings
- Nicknamed 'Clutching Hand' by pilots for its forgiving but slow nature
Recognizable by its very boxy, high-sided fuselage, equal-span unswept biplane wings with large ailerons on both wings, and an unusually upright posture. The extremely simple construction and rectangular wing planform are distinctive.
Specifications
- The Airco DH.6 has a length of 8.31 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.95 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 113 km/h (70 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Introduced in 1916 to meet urgent demand for pilot training during World War I, the DH.6 was produced in large numbers by multiple manufacturers, with over 2,280 built. Its intentionally simple construction allowed rapid production, and despite its limitations it trained thousands of RFC and RAF pilots. Late in the war, surplus DH.6s were used for anti-submarine coastal patrol duties.
Variants
The standard DH.6 was powered variously by the RAF 1a, Curtiss OX-5, or Renault engines depending on availability. No major structural variants were produced.
Where you'll see it
Served extensively with the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force; also used by the Australian Flying Corps. Relevant to UK aviation heritage as a key WWI trainer.
Related aircraft
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