de Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth
de Havilland · United Kingdom · first flew 1925 · light aircraft
The de Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth was the definitive production variant of the celebrated Moth family, powered by the purpose-designed de Havilland Gipsy engine. It was the aircraft that democratised private flying in Britain and the Commonwealth and enabled many famous long-distance flights.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.29 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Light biplane with folding wings and open tandem cockpits
- de Havilland Gipsy I inline engine with exposed cylinder heads
- Single-bay biplane with slight stagger
The folding single-bay biplane configuration, the upright Gipsy inline engine with exposed cylinder head fins, and open tandem cockpits with separate windscreens are the defining features distinguishing the Gipsy Moth from the later Tiger Moth's swept-back wings.
Specifications
- The de Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth has a length of 7.29 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.14 m (30 ft).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The DH.60G introduced the de Havilland Gipsy I engine in 1928, replacing the earlier ADC Cirrus. Its combination of reliability, economy and docile handling made it the standard light aircraft for flying clubs across the Empire. Francis Chichester, Jim Mollison and Amy Johnson all made their record flights in Gipsy Moths.
Variants
The DH.60 family included the Cirrus Moth, Gipsy Moth (DH.60G), Metal Moth (DH.60M), and Moth Major (DH.60 GIII); the DH.82 Tiger Moth was the direct military development.
Where you'll see it
Gipsy Moths equipped the RAF Reserve flying training schools and virtually every civilian flying club in Britain and Australia through the late 1920s and 1930s; military variants were used for communications and liaison.
Related aircraft
- DH.60 Moth
- de Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth
- Tiger Moth
- de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth
- Aero A.11
- Atlantic Aircraft F-10A
- Blackburn R.2 Airedale
- Loening OL-2
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