De Havilland DH.72
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1920 in England, United Kingdom |
| Headquarters | Hatfield , United Kingdom |
| Products | Aircraft |
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The de Havilland DH.72 was a substantial British three-engine biplane bomber developed as a successor to the Vickers Virginia. It ultimately did not enter mass production.
Development
The Air Ministry's specification B.22/27 sought a replacement for the Vickers Virginia night bomber, leading de Havilland to receive a contract for a single prototype. The DH.72[1] originated as an enlarged and militarized adaptation of the successful three-engine biplane airliner, the de Havilland Hercules. Construction extended over approximately three years, delayed partly by the requirement for duralumin-covered wings—a material unfamiliar to de Havilland—and partly due to the Air Ministry's insistence on a nose gunner’s station. This necessitated repositioning the Hercules’ central engine to the upper wing. Final assembly occurred at Gloster's facility in Brockworth, under a military production agreement with de Havilland, and the aircraft was equipped with three 595 hp (444 kW) Bristol Jupiter XFS radial engines.[1]
Mirroring the Hercules, the DH.72 featured equal-span, parallel chord wings without sweep or stagger. However, its wingspan was increased by 19.5%[1][2] and incorporated three bays instead of two. Both upper and lower wings were fitted with ailerons, while leading edge slots were present on the upper wing. To accommodate the central engine’s propeller clearance, the upper wing was mounted well above the fuselage, with the lower wing attached roughly one-third up the fuselage side. The two outer engines were installed atop the lower wing just inside the initial interplane struts. Beneath these engines were widely spaced pairs of wheels forming a stable undercarriage, which was braced to the fuselage and allowed an unobstructed underside for bomb racks. Distinct from the Hercules, the DH.72 employed a monoplane tailplane but retained twin vertical fins. Control surfaces such as rudders and elevators were balanced; elevator horns extended noticeably beyond fixed surfaces and were split to accommodate a rear gunner positioned at the extreme tail. The fuselage had flat sides with an access door located just behind the wings and an internal cabin featuring two windows positioned ahead of the propellers. The pilots occupied an open cockpit situated well forward, with a front gunner stationed below in the nose.[1]
The maiden flight of the DH.72 took place on 27 July 1931,[3] after which it underwent evaluation at RAE Farnborough in mid-November before proceeding to competitive trials at RAF Martlesham Heath.[1] Among its competitors was the Boulton Paul P.32. Neither design secured production orders, resulting in only one DH.72 being constructed.[1]
Specifications
References
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