The de Havilland DH.87 Hornet Moth is a single-engined cabin biplane designed by the de Havilland Aircraft Company in 1934 as a potential replacement for its highly successful de Havilland Tiger Moth trainer. Although its side-by-side two-seat cabin made it closer in configuration to the modern aircraft that military trainee pilots would later fly, there was no interest from the RAF and the aircraft was put into production for private buyers.
DH.87A Hornet Moth retaining the original tapered wing design. Wetaskiwin, Alberta, June 1996
The prototype first flew at Hatfield on 9 May 1934 and, with two other pre-production aircraft, embarked on an extensive test program that resulted in the first production aircraft (designated DH.87A) completed in August 1935 having wings of greater outboard taper. These were found to cause problems, especially when landing in three-point attitude: there was a tendency for the tips to stall, causing embarrassment to the pilot and often damage to the aeroplane. From early 1936, de Havilland offered owners of the DH.87A replacement wings of the new squarer shape at a reduced price in exchange for the original wings. Designated DH.87B, new aircraft from about manufacture Number 68 were built with the new square wings. This wing reduced the overall span by 8 inches (20cm). The alterations slightly increased overall weight at some penalty to performance.
A total of 164 aircraft were produced, of which 84 were placed on the British Register.[1] Over 70 British Hornet Moths were impressed for military service at the start of the Second World War. In early 1940, the RAF used Hornet Moths to carry out unarmed coastal patrols to deter German submarines, while later in the war, many were used as liaison aircraft.[2] South Africa requisitioned 19 Hornet Moths, with the aircraft used for communications duties, while at least three Hornet Moths were impressed into military duties in India.[2]
Small numbers survived the war and with time became highly prized by vintage aircraft enthusiasts. A small number are still flying, over eighty years after production ceased.
Variants
The second Hornet Mothex-RAF 1936 de Havilland DH.87B Hornet Moth at Cotswold Airport, England, in 2018DH.87B Hornet Moth G-AHBL, Kemble (2019)
DH.87 Hornet Moth: prototypes
DH.87A Hornet Moth: production model
DH.87B Hornet Moth: production model with wing modification
Comas, Matthieu (September–October 2020). "So British!: 1939–1940, les avions britanniques dans l'Armée de l'Air" [So British!: British Aircraft in the French Air Force 1939–1940]. Avions (in French). No.236. pp.38–61. ISSN1243-8650.
Grey, C. G.; Bridgman, Leonard, eds. (1938). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd.
Jackson, A. J. (1987). De Havilland Aircraft since 1909 (Thirded.). London: Putnam. ISBN0-85177-802-X.
Sturtivant, Ray; Burrow, Mick (1995). Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939 to 1945. Tunbridge Wells, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN0-85130-232-7.
Follett, K. "Hornet flight", (translated in Italian "Il volo del calabrone", Mondadori Editore S.p.A., Milano, 2003 ISBN88-04-54428-7) It's a fictitious novel, first printed in 2002, in which a hornet moth plays a key role in the story.
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