Häfeli DH-5
Eidgenössische Konstruktionswerkstätte · Switzerland · first flew 1919 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Häfeli DH-5 was a Swiss two-seat reconnaissance biplane of the 1910s and 1920s, built by the aircraft department of the Federal Construction Works at Thun.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay biplane of wood and fabric
- Single V8 engine in the nose
- Some aircraft later fitted with Handley Page slats
A wood-and-fabric single-bay biplane with a two-man crew, 7.6 m long on a 12 m span.
Specifications
- The Häfeli DH-5 has a length of 7.6 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12 m (39 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 180 km/h (112 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by August Häfeli, it was a single-bay biplane of wood and fabric construction powered by a 180 hp LFW I engine from the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works. Test flying of the prototype began in March 1919, and 39 were ordered.
Variants
The DH-5 was the initial production version with either the LFW I or LFW II engine. The DH-5A had a 220 hp LFW III engine, and the DH-5X was a trials aircraft with a Hispano-Suiza HS-42 engine that was not ordered into production.
Where you'll see it
The DH-5 entered service in 1922 and was not withdrawn until 1940. Some aircraft were later modified with Handley Page slats, and the surviving DH-5As were modified at Thun in 1932 so that crews could wear parachutes. About 80 were built.
Related aircraft
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