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The 'Airco DH.9A' was a British light bomber designed and first used shortly before the end of the First World War. Colloquially known as the 'Ninack' (from the designation ''nine-A''), it served on in large numbers for the Royal Air Force following the end of the war, both at home and overseas, where it was used for colonial policing in the Middle East, finally being retired in 1931.

Contents

Design and development

Operational History

World War 1

Interwar RAF Service

Variants

Specifications (DH.9A)

References

External links

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Design and development

The DH.9A was planned as an improved version of the existing Airco DH.9. The DH.9 was a disappointment owing to its underpowered and unreliable engines, and the DH.9A was planned to use much more powerful engines to resolve this. As the Rolls-Royce Eagle engine used in the successful DH.4 was unavailable, the new 400 hp American Liberty 12 engine was chosen.
As Airco was busy developing the Airco DH.10 twin-engined bomber, detailed design was carried out by Westland Aircraft. The DH.9 was fitted with new, longer span wings, and a strengthened fuselage structure.
The first prototype flew in March 1918, powered by a Rolls Royce Eagle as no Liberty engines were yet available. The prototype proved successful, with the first Liberty-engined DH.9A flying in April 1918, and deliveries to the Royal Flying Corps starting in June. By the end of the war, a total of 2,250 DH.9As had been ordered, with 885 having built by the end of the year. As it was decided that the DH.9A would be a standard type in the postwar RAF, the majority of outstanding orders were fulfilled, with 1,730 being built under the wartime contracts before production ceased in 1919.
While the existing aircraft were subject to a programme of refurbishment, a number of small contracts were placed for new production of DH.9As in 1925-26. These contracts resulted in a further 268 DH.9As being built. The new production and refurbished aircraft included batches of twin control trainers and six experimental aircraft powered by 465 hp Napier Lion engines, which reached a maximum speed of 144 mph.

Operational History

World War 1

The DH.9A entered service in July 1918 with No. 110 Squadron RAF, moving to France in September 1918, with a further three squadrons commencing operations over the Western Front before the Armistice. Other squadrons flew coastal patrols from Great Yarmouth before the end of the year.

Interwar RAF Service

While the squadrons in service at the end of the First World War quickly disbanded or re-equipped in the post war dis-armament, the DH.9A continued in service as the RAF's standard light bomber, with a total of 24 squadrons being equipped between 1920 and 1931, both at home and abroad.
The first post war operations were in southern Russia in 1919, in support of the 'White Army' against the Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil War. In September 1919, the RAF personnel were ordered to return home, leaving their aircraft behind.
The DH.9A also formed one of the key tools available to Britain to manage the British Empire, particularly the territories that were in its control following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the Great War. Five squadrons of DH.9As served in the Middle East, carrying out occasional bombing raids against rebelling tribesmen and villages. A larger radiator was fitted to cope with the high temperatures, while additional water containers and spares were carried in case the aircraft were forced down in the desert, the DH.9A's struggling under ever heavier loads. Despite this it served successfully, with the Liberty engine being picked out for particular praise for its reliability ('as good as any Rolls Royce') in such harsh conditions.^[1] Some DH.9A aircraft were also transported to India to supplement the British Indian Army.^[2]
At home, the DH.9A continued on in regular RAF service until 1930, also forming the initial equipment of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF).

Variants

★ 'Airco DH.9A:' Original version.

★ 'de Havilland DH.9AJ:' Single prototype with Bristol Jupiter engine.

★ 'de Havilland DH.9R:' Racing aircraft with sesquiplane wing powered by Napier Lion engine - (one built).

★ 'de Havilland DH.15 Gazelle': Re-engined DH.9A with a B.H.P Atlantic inline engine, one conversion

★ 'de Havilland DH.16:' Civil transport with widened fuselage seating four passengers in a glazed cabin behind the pilot, who sat in an open cabin. 9 built. Rolls Royce Eagle or Napier Lion Engine.

★ 'Engineering Division USD-9A:' United States built version (13 built).

★ 'Engineering Division USD-9B:' USD-9A fitted with more powerful Liberty engine.

★ 'Armstrong Whitworth Tadpole' One prototype conversion for a naval three-seat spotter/reconnaissance aircraft.

★ 'Westland Walrus' Production version of the Tadpole conversion with the Napier Lion III engine (36 built).


★ 'Polikarpov R-1' and 'R-2' Copy of DH.9A built in Soviet Union, originally at Duks Aircraft Works, supervised by Nikolai Nikolaevich Polikarpov. Early aircraft were powered by Mercedes DIV or Armstrong Siddeley Puma, but with most powered by an M-5 copy of the Liberty Engine. Produced 1922-1932, with over 2400 built. Gunston, Bill. ''The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft from 1875 - 1995''. London: Osprey Aerospace, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.

Specifications (DH.9A)

References

1. Mason 1994
2. In pictures: 'Elephant stable' bomber


★ Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.

★ Mason, Francis K. ''The British Bomber since 1914''. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1994. ISBN 0-85177-861-5.

External links

★ Airco DH.9A

★ Airco DH.9

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