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Страна: Великобритания

Год: 1915

Twin pusher-engine, three-seat, three-bay biplane light bomber

A.Jackson De Havilland Aircraft since 1909 (Putnam)

De Havilland D.H.3.

   The D.H.3, Capt. Geoffrey de Havilland's third design for the Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd., which appeared in 1916, was a large two bay biplane capable of bombing German industrial centres. Contrasting in every way with his previous small pusher fighters but owing something to the Royal Aircraft Factory's F.E.4, in the early design of which Capt. De Havilland had collaborated, the D.H.3 was equipped with two 120 h.p. Beardmore water-cooled engines in nacelles between the mainplanes. The long, slender, wire braced Warren girder fuselage was built of spruce, covered with plywood at the forward end and carried low to the ground on a wide track, short legged undercarriage. A pair of bumper wheels was provided under the nose. The four bladed, nine foot diameter pusher airscrews were carried clear of the mainplane trailing edges by short extension shafts and the D.H.3 was also the first aeroplane to feature the graceful curving rudder which was to become characteristic of almost every future de Havilland design. As might be expected on so large an aeroplane it was necessary to ensure good handling qualities by using an elevator with generous horn balances. The crew of three consisted of the pilot in an open cockpit just ahead of the mainplanes, and front and rear gunners whose cockpits were each equipped with two Lewis gun pillar mountings. For its day the D.H.3 had a very lively performance and when engaged on long range duties could carry a military load of 680 lb. and fuel for eight hours.
   Only the prototype was built and this carried no serial number. A second version, carrying R.F.C. serial 7744, was powered by two 160 h.p. Beardmore engines and so modified as to warrant the designation D.H.3A. These modifications included the cutting back of mainplane trailing edges in order to obviate the use of engine extension shafts, while to lighten the controls still further, the rudder was given increased balance area. An order was placed for 50 production D.H.3As but when the first, A5088, was still under construction, the War Office shortsightedly cancelled the contract in the belief that strategic bombing of Germany was unnecessary and that the twin engined bomber was impracticable. Both prototypes were flown by pilots of the Upavon evaluation unit but were then relegated to the dump behind the Hendon hangars. It is said that the prototype D.H.3s were actually burning on the factory scrap heap on July 7, 1917 while London was being bombed by their German counterpart, the Gotha. This and later bombardments encouraged a rapid change of official attitude which resulted in the D.H.3 being redesigned and eventually built in quantity as the D.H. 10.

SPECIFICATION AND DATA
   Manufacturers: The Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Hendon, London, N.W.9.
   Power Plants:
   (D.H.3) Two 120 h.p. Beardmore
   (D.H.3A) Two 160 h.p. Beardmore
   Dimensions:
   Span 60 ft. 10 in. Length 36 ft. 10 in.
   Height 14 ft. 6 in. Wing area (D.H.3) 793 sq. ft. (D.H.3A) 770 sq. ft.
   Weights:
   Tare weight (D.H.3) 3,980 lb.
   All-up weight (D.H.3) 5.810 lb . (D.H.3A) 5,776 lb.
   Performance: (D.H.3)
   Maximum speed 95 m.p.h. Initial climb 550 ft./min.
   Endurance 8 hours Range 700 miles
   Production:
   Prototypes - D.H.3 unmarked, D.H.3A serial 7744
   Others - 7745 and A5088 unfinished, A5089 to A5137 cancelled

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Описание:

  • A.Jackson De Havilland Aircraft since 1909 (Putnam)
  • F.Manson British Bomber Since 1914 (Putnam)
  • P.Lewis British Bomber since 1914 (Putnam)
  • J.Bruce British Aeroplanes 1914-1918 (Putnam)
  • H.King Armament of British Aircraft (Putnam)
  • Jane's All The World Aircraft 1919
  • Журнал Flight
  • J.Bruce - British Aeroplanes 1914-1918 /Putnam/

    The unserialled Airco D.H.3 (2-120 h.p. Beardmore engines) which, despite attempts to mount the engines as far forward as possible, still rested on its tailskid when not occupied by its crew.

  • A.Jackson - De Havilland Aircraft since 1909 /Putnam/

    The D.H.3 prototype with 120 h.p. Beardmore engines.

  • Журнал - Flight за 1919 г.

    The D.H. 3. - A three-seater twin-engine pusher, with two 120 h.p. Beardmore engines. A lack of more powerful engines prevented the production in quantities of this machine, which is really the forerunner of the famous D.H.10a.

  • Форум - Breguet's Aircraft Challenge /WWW/

    D.H.3 with two 120 h.p. Beardmore engines

  • J.Bruce - British Aeroplanes 1914-1918 /Putnam/

    No 7744, the Airco D.H.3A, showing the cut back mainplane trailing edge, with 160hp Beardmore engines, whose increased weight more than cancelled the benefit of extra power and bestowed a slightly reduced performance compared with that of the D.H.3.
    The three seat Airco DH 3 was to be the victim of an Air Board policy shift away from twin- to single-engined bombers. As a result, only one of the two prototypes ordered, serial no 7744, was completed and flown. Initially using two 120hp Beardmores, the machine proved somewhat underpowered and was re-engined to take the 160hp Beardmore as the DH 3a, the form in which it is seen here. First flown in April 1916, a contract for 50 production aircraft was cancelled in favour of the single-engined DH 4. Performance of the DH 3a included a top level speed of 95mph, a full military load of 680lb that included ammunition for the two .303-inch Lewis guns, along with a full load range of 700 miles. As it was, the experience gained with this machine was not totally wasted, the project being resurrected later in the form of the DH 10.