De Havilland Giant Moth

de Havilland

Industry	Aerospace
Founded	May 20, 1920 (1920-05-20)
Headquarters	Edgware , United Kingdom
Products	Aircraft (including DH.61 Giant Moth)

The de Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth was a substantial single-engine biplane transport developed in the 1920s by de Havilland at their Stag Lane Aerodrome, located in Edgware, United Kingdom. Primarily designed for operations in Australia, several units were also dispatched to Canada.

Design

File:DH.61 cabin.jpg

The interior cabin of QANTAS, 1929

After the success of the DH.50J model in Australia, de Havilland was commissioned to create a larger aircraft powered by a Bristol Jupiter engine. The design process was completed within just ten weeks, with the prototype making its maiden flight in December 1927. The enclosed cabin accommodated six to eight passengers, while the pilot operated from an open cockpit situated behind the wings. In total, ten units were manufactured; one assembled in Canada from parts, with the remainder produced at the Stag Lane facility.

A contemporary Pathé News footage claimed this aircraft was the "first commercial plane with folding wings," depicting a single individual folding them.

Australia and New Guinea

After initial test flights in England, the aircraft was shipped to de Havilland Australia in Melbourne for reassembly. The prototype resumed flight on 2 March 1928 and commenced scheduled routes between Adelaide and Broken Hill operated by MacRobertson Miller Aviation. Initially named Canberra, this designation was used informally until it was officially changed to Giant Moth.

Two women standing before a large biplane with a man in flying gear seated in an open cockpit

Les Holden seated in Canberra’s cockpit with passengers at Mascot Aerodrome, circa 1930

Another example (registration G-AUHW) arrived in November 1928 but crashed near Cowes, Victoria prior to delivery to Airgold Ltd. After repairs, this aircraft was acquired by Les Holden later that year for his charter operations based at Mascot, New South Wales. Holden named it Canberra. A veteran World War I flying ace, he and his aircraft would gain significant attention the following year.

In 1929, aviation pioneers Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm departed Sydney for England aboard a Fokker F.VII trimotor monoplane called Southern Cross. When radio contact ceased, search efforts commenced. In April 1929, either Australian National Airways or the Sydney Citizens' Relief Committee enlisted Holden’s aid for the search mission. Reaching the search zone presented challenges; prior to departing Sydney for Wyndham, an additional 70-gallon fuel tank and radio equipment were installed. Even with extra fuel capacity, Holden needed to refuel and replenish oil supplies during the journey. On either 4 or 5 April 1929, Holden along with Aero Club engineer F. R. Mitchell, Dr G. R. Hamilton, and wireless operator L. S. W. Stannage took off aboard Canberra. Reports indicate Holden flew approximately 9,000 miles (14,500 km) over about 100 hours, before locating the missing Southern Cross on a mudflat near the Glenelg River. The crew of Southern Cross were rescued successfully; however, two other search participants lost their lives.

File:Inaugeration DH.61.jpg

Giant Moth Apollo

In April and May of 1929, Qantas procured two Giant Moths named Apollo (G-AUJB) and Diana (G-AUJC), respectively. These models were notable as Qantas’ first aircraft fitted with onboard lavatories. The airline withdrew them from active service in 1935 due to reliability issues with their Bristol Jupiter XI engines. Later that year, Apollo was sold and subsequently crashed near Mubo, New Guinea on 9 May 1938.

Canada

Prior to delivery, three aircraft destined for Canada (G-CAPG, G-CARD, and G-CAJT) were equipped with Short Brothers floats at Rochester. One of these planes (G-CAJT) was subsequently leased to Western Canada Airlines Ltd. During a test flight on 23 October 1928, the Giant Moth experienced structural failure mid-air and crashed near Calgary, Alberta, although the incident did not result in fatalities. The remaining DH.61s operated in Ontario, primarily engaged in fire suppression missions. Additionally, one Giant Moth (CF-OAK) was reconstructed using various components and fitted with a Pratt & Whitney Hornet engine.

United Kingdom

The aircraft known as Geraldine (G-AAAN) was acquired by the Daily Mail to transport a photographer along with his motorcycle across the United Kingdom. It would land at airfields closest to news events, and was uniquely outfitted with a darkroom for developing photographs during return flights. Subsequently, it was sold to National Flying Services and renamed Leone. In the early 1930s, Western Australian Airways purchased the aircraft, operating it in Western Australia from 1931 until 1935. Following financial troubles faced by the airline, the Giant Moth was transferred to New Guinea Airlines. The aircraft (G-AAAN) ultimately crashed while landing at Wau, New Guinea on 20 August 1935.

The Youth of Britain (G-AAEV), adapted to accommodate ten passengers, was utilized by Sir Alan Cobham during a 21-week promotional aviation tour across the United Kingdom that concluded on 7 October 1929. Over the course of this journey, Cobham covered approximately 60,000 miles, visited 110 towns, and provided flights to around 40,000 individuals—including 10,000 schoolchildren at no cost. Among those who experienced their first flight aboard Cobham’s Giant Moth was Eric Lock, who later became a Royal Air Force fighter ace during the Battle of Britain. After completing the tour, Cobham sold this aircraft to Imperial Airways for use in survey missions. However, its service was brief; G-AAEV was lost following a crash landing executed by Charles Wolley-Dod on 19 January 1930.

Operators

• Template:AUS
  • Guinea Airways Ltd.
  • Holden Air Transport Ltd.
  • MacRobertson Miller Airlines
  • Qantas
  • West Australian Airlines Ltd.
• Template:BRA
  • Varig
• Template:COL
  • Avianca
• Canada
  • London Air Transport Ltd.
  • Ontario Provincial Air Services
  • Western Canada Airways Ltd.
• Template:UK
  • Alan Cobham Aviation Ltd.
  • Associated Newspapers Ltd.
  • Imperial Airways Ltd.
  • National Flying Services Ltd.

Specifications

File:De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth 3-view line drawing NACA Aircraft Circular No.65.jpg

Three-view illustration of the DH.61 from NACA Aircraft Circular No.65

Bibliography

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.
• Jackson, A.J. De Havilland Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam, Third edition, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-802-X.
• Molson, K.M. Pioneering in Canadian Air Transport. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: James Richardson & Sons, Ltd., 1974. ISBN 0-919212-39-5.

Further reading

• Jackson, A. J., British Civil Aircraft Since 1919 Volume II, 2nd edition, Putnam, London, 1973, p. 99, ISBN 9780370100104

External links

• DH 61 Giant Moth at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre Archived version available from August 26, 2017
• Pathé News footage depicting the loading of passengers and baggage