Conceived to meet the requirements of Specification F.20/27 which called for a short-range, fast-climbing, lightly-loaded single-seat interceptor fighter, the D.H.77 was designed by W G Carter in close collaboration with Maj F B Halford. The latter evolved specifically for the fighter a novel supercharged air-cooled engine of low frontal area which was built by D Napier, as the Napier H type and later known as the Rapier I, offering 301hp. Of mixed construction, the wing having two steel spars and wooden ribs with fabric skinning, and the fuselage, also fabric-covered, being a box girder of steel tube with wooden formers, the D.H.77 carried an armament of two 7.7mm Vickers guns and flew early in December 1929. The sole prototype was purchased by the Air Ministry and after the completion of official trials was used primarily for Rapier engine development. It was fitted, in December 1932, with a 295hp Rapier II, the Hawker Hornet biplane (renamed Fury) having meanwhile been selected for production as the RAF's first standard interceptor.

3-View

A three-view drawing (1280 x 976)