DH 9
The DH 9 first flew in 1917, and was designed as a replacement bomber for the DH 4. The aircraft was never used by the Australian squadrons, but in 1920, two ex-Australian Flying Corps pilots, Parer and McIntosh, completed the first single-engined flight from UK to Australia in a Puma-engined DH 9. They staggered into Darwin seven months after leaving England, in one of the most amazing flights of all time.
Similar Puma-engined DH 9s were presented to the Australian Air Corps in 1920. In 1921 these aircraft served with No 1 Flying Training School under the designation A6. An unusual event occurred in 1924 when two RAAF DH 9s were hired to Captain Larkin for four months and operated as G-AUEA and G-AUEG, before they were returned as A6-4 and A6-5.
In 1925 DH 9s were allotted to the army co-operation flights of Nos 1 and 3 Squadrons. They soon became the workhorses of the service and carried out many long-range survey and mapping flights, and took part in early night-flying experiments. DH 9 formations also welcomed the American fleet in 1925, the Duke and Duchess of York in 1927, and the RAF Southampton flying boats in 1928.
A Point Cook DH 9 (A6-19) was streamlined and fitted with a Nimbus engine and achieved the remarkable speed (for a DH 9) of 150 mph. Although the Wapiti began to replace the DH 9 in 1929, at least four Nines lingered on and were transferred to state aero clubs.
TECHNICAL DATA: de Havilland DH 9
DESCRIPT10N:
Two-seat day bomber and general-purpose aircraft.POWER PLANT:
One 230hp Siddeley Puma.
DIMENSIONS:
Span 12.9 m (42ft 5in); length 9.3 m (30ft 6in); height 3.4 m (11ft 2in).
WEIGHTS:
Empty 1000kg; loaded, 1664 kg.
PERFORMANCE:
Maximum speed 180 km/h (112mph); climb, 1min 25secs to 1,000ft (305 m); endurance 4.5 hrs; ceiling 15,500ft (4724 m).
ARMAMENT:
One fixed Vickers gun forward and single free mounted Lewis aft; bomb load 208 kg (460lb).
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