Airco DH.3
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1912 |
| Founder | Geoffrey de Havilland |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
The Airco DH.3 was a British bomber developed during the First World War. Conceived in 1916 by Geoffrey de Havilland, the chief designer at the Aircraft Manufacturing Company, it was intended as a long-range daylight bomber. The aircraft featured a sizable biplane configuration with expansive three-bay wings, a narrow fuselage, and a rounded rudder. Propulsion came from two 120 hp (89 kW) Beardmore engines arranged in a pusher layout between the wings. Besides the standard tailskid landing gear, a pair of wheels was installed beneath the nose to prevent forward tipping.
A second model, named DH.3A, incorporated more robust 160 hp (120 kW) Beardmore engines, prompting the War Office to place an order for 50 units. However, this contract was cancelled before any were finished, likely due to inadequate climb performance—it required 58 minutes to ascend to 6,500 feet. The competing design, the Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.4, performed even worse, rendering these aircraft unsuitable for effective strategic bombing. Both prototypes were dismantled in 1917.
The subsequent development, the DH.10 Amiens, evolved from the DH.3A by utilizing significantly more powerful engines, increasing total power from 320 hp (240 kW) to nearly 800 hp (600 kW), along with several refinements. This variant first took flight in March 1918 but arrived too late to participate in wartime squadron operations.
Specifications (DH.3)
See also
Notes
Bibliography
- Donald, David, editor. The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada: Prospero Books, 1997, p. 118. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
- Jackson, A.J. De Havilland Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam, Third edition, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-802-X.
- Mason, Francis K. The British Bomber since 1914. London: Putnam, 1994. ISBN 0-85177-861-5.