GARY L. SMITH COLLECTION
No. 8728. Airco D.H.9A (F1073) Royal Air Force
Aeroplane Photo Supply (APS) Photo No. 301

Airco D.H.9A

09/30/2016. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "With the availability of the new 400 hp Packard Liberty 12 engine and because of the poor performance of the Puma, it was decided to adapt the D.H.9 to take this new American engine. In early 1918, redesign work on what was to become the D.H.9A was entrusted to Westland at Yeovil. Completely new wings were designed, and among other changes was wire bracing of the fuselage. However, the expected high production rate of Liberty engines was not achieved, and the first D.H.9A, a conversion of the D.H.9 serialed B7664, was fitted with a 375 hp Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engine in order that airframe development could proceed. When sufficient numbers of Liberty engines became available, one was installed in the prototype, a conversion of the D.H.9 serialed C6122 which first flew on April 19, 1918.

Armament consisted of a synchronized forward-firing Vickers machine gun and one or two Scarff-mounted Lewis machine guns on a Scarff ring on the rear cockpit. Normal bomb load consisted of two 230 lb (104 kg) bombs, but up to 660 lb (299 kg) could be carried on racks under the wings and fuselage.

A total of 2,300 aircraft were produced in Britain and thirteen in the USA by the following manufacturers:
Airco D.H.9A


Created March 31, 2009