De Havilland Leopard Moth

de Havilland Aircraft Company

Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1920 (1920)
Headquarters	Hatfield , United Kingdom
Products	Aircraft

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The de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth is a three-seat, high-wing cabin monoplane developed and manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company in the year 1933.

Design and construction

Developed as the successor to the DH.80 Puss Moth, the DH.85 took over production at de Havilland’s facilities initially at Stag Lane and subsequently at Hatfield. While resembling its predecessor in overall layout, it distinguished itself by featuring a lightweight all-plywood fuselage structure instead of the earlier tubular steel frame. This design choice significantly enhanced range, payload, and performance while utilizing the same engine model. The pilot’s seat is positioned centrally ahead of two side-by-side passenger seats, and the aircraft’s wings are designed to fold for convenient storage within hangars.

Operational history

The prototype aircraft made its maiden flight on 27 May 1933, and shortly thereafter, in July of that year, it secured victory in the King's Cup Race with an average speed of 139.5 mph (224.5 km/h), flown by Geoffrey de Havilland. A total production run of 133 units was completed, including 71 delivered to owners within the British Isles and ten dispatched to Australia—one notably acquired by Nancy Bird Walton, Australia’s pioneering female commercial aviator. Additional exports reached countries such as France, Germany, India, South Africa, and Switzerland. Manufacturing ceased in 1936.

During World War II, forty-four Leopard Moths were requisitioned for military duties in Britain, with further examples impressed into service in Australia, primarily fulfilling communication roles. Despite intensive wartime use leading to many losses, a limited number remained operational decades later; as of 2009, six were still flying within the United Kingdom.

File:DH85.jpg

The initial prototype of the Leopard Moth

Operators

File:Leopard Moth G-ACMN.jpg

Leopard Moth illustrating complex wing folding mechanism

Military operators

Template:Country data Belgian Congo

• Aviation militaire de la Force publique First aircraft (C-1) entered service on 9 October 1940.

Template:FRA

• L'Armée de l'Air

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• Luftwaffe (operated in limited quantities)

India

• Royal Indian Air Force

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• Dutch Army Aviation Group

Template:POR

• Portuguese Air Force

South Africa

• South African Air Force

Template:Country data Southern Rhodesia

• Southern Rhodesian Air Force operated a single unit.

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• Spanish Air Force

Template:Country data Straits Settlements

• Malayan Volunteer Air Force

Template:UK

• Royal Air Force requisitioned several former civilian Leopard Moths for use as communications and liaison aircraft during WWII.
• Royal Navy also impressed two civilian Leopard Moths into service.

Template:Country data Kingdom of Yugoslavia

• Royal Yugoslav Air Force operated one example only.

Airline operators

India

• Air India

Specifications (DH.85)

File:De Havilland DH.85 3-view NACA-AC-186.png

Three-view schematic of the De Havilland DH.85 from NACA-AC-186