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In order to carry out research on high-speed
flight and to test replacement
engines for the Cirrus, de Havilland built
in 1927 two small single-seat monoplanes
designated de Haviliand
D.H.71 Tiger Moth. Such was the
degree of streamlining required that it
was designed around test pilot Hubert
Broad. The two aircraft were entered for
the King's Cup Air Race, for it then
seemed accepted that any new light aircraft
of that time were required to thus
prove themselves. However, one was
scratched before the race; the other,
powered by an A.D.C. Cirrus II engine,
was withdrawn during the race due to
bumpy conditions.
In August 1927 the first D.H.71, then
with alternative wings of only 5.69m span and a new 101kW Gipsy engine, was flown by Broad to a
new 100km closed circuit
record for aircraft of its class of
300.09km/h. Five days
later Broad attempted the world's altitude
record for the category, but having
no oxygen the limitation was on man and
not machine. He reached 5849m before having to give up,
although the aircraft was still climbing at
over 305m per minute.
In 1930 the first D.H.71 was taken to
Australia, but crashed during practice for
an air race after suffering engine failure
on take-off, killing the pilot. The second
airframe, minus engine, was destroyed
at Hatfield in an air raid during October
1940.
 | A three-view drawing (700 x 593) |
| MODEL | D.H.71 |
| ENGINE | 1 x A.D.C. Cirrus II inline piston engine, 63kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 411 kg | 906 lb |
| Empty weight | 280 kg | 617 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 6.86 m | 22 ft 6 in |
| Length | 5.66 m | 18 ft 7 in |
| Height | 2.13 m | 6 ft 12 in |
| Wing area | 7.11 m2 | 76.53 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 267 km/h | 166 mph |
| Robert Alexander, rob.alexander(@)eng.monash.edu.au, 07.05.2008 I was at the Queensland Air Museum, Caloundra last week and there on display is a replica airframe of a D.H.71 Tiger Moth which was donated by a Mr.Rob Slight. I have the photo...
Regarding the A/C that was shipped to Australia for a Mr F.K.Bardsly or Bardesley.. its c.n. was 323 whilst G-EBRV was 324. Photograph of G-EBQU at the RAAF base at Pt.Cook, Victoria with Maj.Hereward de Havilland at the controls before going to Mascot,NSW. Full article of the above can be found in the book by R.T.Jackson "De Havilland Aircraft since 1909" | | Graeme Parsons, graemeparsons(@)exemail.com.au, 22.03.2008 The first DH71, G-EBQU was taken to Australia by Geoffrey de Havilland & registered as VH-UNH to a local man.
According to the press of the day, at about 5.00 pm on 17/9/30 a young experienced pilot Dave Smith took the plane up in practice for an aerial derby to be held the following weekend. He failed to strap himself in and experiencing some difficulty with the controls, was thrown out of the plan about 2 miles from Sydney airport,and was killed. The plane was a total wreck.
A report said the aircraft was sensitive to elevator control at high speed & the pilot had used the controls coarsly. There was no engine failure.
Hubert Broad had apparently told both Charles Kingsford-Smith & Charles Ulm, previously in the UK that it was "a nasty machine to fly". (Press photo of aircraft in Aus. available) | | Niklas Oberfeld, ennobee(@)peoplepc.com, 14.09.2007 It is my understanding that the DH71 was develpoed primarily as a test-bed for the new De Havilland Gipsy engine. The original Cirrus engine would have been used to get the aircraft airborne and have the test pilots gain expertise in the flight characteristics of the new craft while the prototype Gipsy engine was being built. The Gipsy itself was a special racing version delivering 130 hp while the series Gipsy I engine would be downrated to 100 hp.
James gilbert: the Great Planes @1970 Ridge Press) | | Mike Dennis, member(@)mecarep.freeserve.co.uk, 29.04.2007 Where can I obtain 3 views or scale drawings of the DH71 please? |
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Do you have any comments about this aircraft ?
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