De havilland dh 4 mail plane
The de Havilland DH.4 was a British biplane mail plane designed and built by de Havilland Aircraft Company in the early 1920s. It was a significant aircraft in the history of airmail, as it was one of the first dedicated mail planes and played a key role in establishing a regular airmail service in the UK.
Design and Development: The DH.4 was designed by de Havilland's chief designer, Geoffrey de Havilland, in response to a request from the British Air Ministry for a mail plane that could carry a large payload of mail and operate from rough airstrips. The aircraft was designed to be a biplane, with a wooden structure and fabric covering, and was powered by a 230 horsepower Bristol Jupiter engine.
The DH.4 had a unique design feature - a large cargo compartment in the fuselage that could be accessed through a large door on the side of the aircraft. This allowed mailbags to be loaded and unloaded quickly and easily, making it an ideal aircraft for airmail service.
Service History: The DH.4 entered service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1922, and was used for airmail and passenger flights. It was also used for experimental flights, including a record-breaking flight from London to Paris in 1923.
In 1924, the DH.4 was used to establish a regular airmail service between London and Paris, with flights operated by the British airline Handley Page Transport. The aircraft was also used for airmail flights within the UK, including a service between London and Manchester.
The DH.4 was also used for experimental flights, including a flight from London to Cape Town, South Africa in 1927, which was the first flight to cross the equator.
Specifications:
- Crew: 1-2
- Capacity: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of mail
- Length: 9.14 m (30 ft 0 in)
- Wingspan: 14.63 m (48 ft 0 in)
- Height: 3.35 m (11 ft 0 in)
- Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Jupiter engine, 230 horsepower
- Maximum speed: 185 km/h (115 mph)
- Range: 1,000 km (620 miles)
Legacy: The de Havilland DH.4 was an important aircraft in the development of airmail and played a significant role in establishing a regular airmail service in the UK. It was also used for experimental flights and was a precursor to the development of modern airliners. Today, the DH.4 is remembered as a pioneering aircraft in the history of aviation.