| DH.53 Humming Bird | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Ultralight monoplane |
| Manufacturer | de Havilland |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 15 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1923–1924 |
| First flight | 2 October 1923[1] |
Thede Havilland DH.53 Humming Bird is a British single-seat, single-engine, low-wing monoplanelight aircraft first flown in the 1920s.
In response to theDaily MailLight Aeroplane Competition of 1923,de Havilland built two DH.53s which were namedHumming Bird andSylvia II. The DH.53 was a low-wing single-seatmonoplane powered by aDouglas 750 cc (46 cu in) motorcycleengine. AtLympne, in October 1923, the DH.53s did not win any prizes but gave an impressive performance.[2] After the trial,Humming Bird was reengined with a 26 hp (19 kW)Blackburne Tomtit two-cylinder engine, and fitted with a revised undercarriage.[2] TheAir Ministry became interested in the design and ordered eight Tomtit-powered aircraft in 1924 as communications andtraining aircraft for theRoyal Air Force.[3]
Early in 1924 twelve aircraft were built atStag Lane Aerodrome and were namedHumming Bird after the first prototype. Eight aircraft were for the Air Ministry order, three were for export toAustralia, and one was exported toAvia inPrague. One further aircraft was later built for an order fromRussia.[4]
The first six aircraft for the Royal Air Force all made their public debut at the 1925 display atRAF Hendon, where they were raced against each other. The last two aircraft would later be used for "parasite aircraft" trials being launched from below anairship – theR.33. The aircraft were retired in 1927 and all eight were sold as civil aircraft.[5]
Data from British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Vol 2,[10]
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
Related lists
