Planes...

Airco DH-6

The model...

This model has a wingspan of 36" (1:12 scale) and is a balsa and liteply construction. It has been covered with dark green 'Solite' film and was built from a plan drawn up by Peter Rake. This plan appeared in the November/December 2000 edition of 'RC Scale International' magazine. It is designed for 3 channels and a geared 400 speed motor. Flying pictures to come when she takes to the air in the new year...

A couple of pictures of the finished model...

The following photos show the build sequence for this model...

	This picture shows the vertical stabilzer and rudder being built up. You can also see the wing ribs completed and sitting together in the top left of this picture - ready for sanding....
	The horizontal stabilizer and elevators...
	The rear fuselage sides pinned over the plan...
	...and then formed with the horizontal spacers to complete the rear fuselage construction.
	Now I started on the front fuselage sides.
	...and formed them up.
	The 28 wing ribs were then cut and sanded.
	Next the wing pairs were formed. The top and bottom pairs are the same shapes.
	The center section was then made to join the top wing sections.
	...glued and clamped in place.
	Now the engine cover was started ready to be covered with 1.5mil balsa.
	Sitting the wings in place to check the fit! Yes - it fits!
	Now also formed the rear cockpit structure ready for covering.
	Next joined the front and rear fuselage sections.
	Now added the top formers...
	and the 'hump' on the removable engine cover.
	A shot of the pieces all together before beginning the covering...
	...and another.
	Covered and gluing the wings on.
	Preliminary outdoor shot - before adding the final detailing.

Last Updated: 2nd November, 2005

 

Original Aircraft…

At the end of 1916 the RFC recognized the immediate need for new training planes if it were to fulfil its commitment for expansion. It realized that there was an immediate need for an aircraft, which was safe to fly, capable of quick and easy production, and easy to repair.

Capt. Geoffrey de Haviland responded to this request with a 2-seat tractor biplane, of very elemental design, with a communal cockpit. The fuselage was in two parts--the front part covered in plywood and the rear section of conventional wooden box-girder construction. The square-ended wings were of conventional construction with the upper and lower wings being interchangeable.

This aircraft was unrelated to the DH4/DH9 series and was a 2 seat biplane trainer and attack aircraft with 36' wingspan. They were initially made by Grahame White's or Airco and these aircraft can be told easily by the rounded top to the rear fuselage. Later versions made by a collection of 7 contractors had angular tops. The DH6 had a max speed of around 65mph and a ceiling of just 6,500'. Endurance was around 2.5 hours and it could carry up to 100lb of bombs.

About 2,400 of these aircraft were built and 26 served with the Australian Flying Corps as follows;

• 8 Aircraft in CFS (Central Flying School) Point Cook. These were serials CFS21 - CFS 28. These aircraft were built by the Aircraft Manufacturing Company and Gloucestershire Aircraft companies in England and shipped out to Australia. These were ordered on 20th March, 1918, with two of these being lost at sea en-route. The AFC then attempted to cancel the replacement order for these airscraft but a further two were sent.
  
  
• 18 Aircraft served with both 5th and 7th (Training) Squadron AFC. Details are difficult to obtain about these aircraft. I'm still trying to find more information...
  

 

 

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