Airco DH.9

Airco DH.9
Country	UK
Role	Bomber
First flight	July 1917
Built	4091

The Airco DH.9 (from de Havilland 9) – also known after 1920 as the de Havilland DH.9 – was a British single-engined biplane bomber developed and deployed during the First World War. The DH.9 was a development of Airco’s earlier successful DH.4, with which it shared many components. These were mated to an all-new fuselage and the BHP/Galloway Adriatic engine, which promised increased performance. Anticipating its usefulness, the type was ordered in very large numbers for Britain’s Royal Flying Corps (RFC).

Source: Airco DH.9 on Wikipedia

de Havilland DH.9 Walk Around
Photographer	Michael Benolkin
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	20

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General Characteristics and Role

The Airco de Havilland DH.9 was a British two-seat biplane bomber developed from the highly successful DH.4 during World War I. Designed by Geoffrey de Havilland, it was intended to replace the DH.4 by featuring an all-new fuselage and a promised powerful new engine. However, the chosen Siddeley Puma engine proved unreliable and underpowered, severely limiting the DH.9’s performance, particularly at high altitudes. Despite its poor combat performance on the Western Front, thousands were built, and it saw extensive post-war service, including early commercial air transport roles (DH.9C variant) and as a colonial policing aircraft, which was later rectified by its successor, the greatly improved DH.9A (or “Nine-Ack”) fitted with the American Liberty L-12 engine. [Image of the Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 biplane in flight]

Property	Typical Value (DH.9 with Puma Engine)
Role	Day Bomber / Reconnaissance Biplane
National Origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Aircraft Manufacturing Company (Airco)
First Flight	July 1917
Crew	2 (Pilot and Observer/Gunner)
Length	9.27 m (30 ft 5 in)
Wingspan	12.92 m (42 ft 5 in)
Empty Weight	Approx. 1,012 kg (2,231 lb)
Maximum Takeoff Weight	Approx. 1,723 kg (3,800 lb)

Powerplant and Performance

Engine: One Armstrong Siddeley Puma (BHP-derived) six-cylinder, liquid-cooled inline engine.
Power Output: 230 hp (170 kW). (The engine failed to reach its intended 300 hp output).
Maximum Speed: Approx. 180 km/h (112 mph) at 3,000 m (10,000 ft).
Service Ceiling: Approx. 4,724 m (15,500 ft).
Endurance: Approx. 4.5 hours.
Performance Issue: The engine’s lack of power and unreliability meant the DH.9 often had inferior performance to the aircraft it was intended to replace, the DH.4.

Armament

Pilot Armament: 1 x fixed, forward-firing .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun (synchronized).
Observer Armament: 1 or 2 x flexible-mounted .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis machine gun(s) on a Scarff ring in the rear cockpit.
Bomb Load: Up to 209 kg (460 lb) of bombs.
- Note: The fuselage redesign moved the pilot aft, creating a more suitable internal bomb bay nearer the center of gravity.
Key Distinction: The successor DH.9A was a greatly improved aircraft, featuring a more reliable 400 hp Liberty L-12 engine and larger wings, resolving the key deficiencies of the original DH.9.