infobox Aircraft
name = DH.93 Don
type = Communications/Liaison
manufacturer = De Havilland Aircraft Company
caption = Prototype DH.93 in flight c. 1937
designer =
first flight = 18 June 1937
introduced = 1938
retired = 1940
produced =
number built = 30 (plus 20 unassembled airframes)
status = retired
unit cost =
primary user = Royal Air Force
more users =
developed from =
variants with their own articles = The de Havilland DH.93 Don was a 1930s British multi-role three-seat training aircraft built by De Havilland Aircraft Company at Hatfield Aerodrome.
Design and development
The Don was designed to meet Air Ministry Specification T.6/26 for a multi-role trainer and was a single-engined monoplane of wooden stressed-skin construction. The DH.93 Don was intended to be a trainer for pilots, radio operators and as a gunnery trainer. The gunnery requirement involved the mounting of a dorsal gun turret.
Operational history
The prototype (Serial Number "L2387") first flew on 18 June 1937 and was transferred to RAF Martlesham Heath for official evaluation. In the course of the trials, more equipment was added which increased the weight, as a result, in an attempt to reduce weight, the dorsal turret was removed. The aircraft was also modified with small auxiliary fins fitted beneath the tailplane. [ Jackson 1962, p. 354.] ]Despite the changes incorporated from the fifth aircraft [ Jackson 1962, p. 354.] , the aircraft was deemed not suitable for training and the original order for 250 aircraft was reduced to only 50 aircraft, 20 of which were delivered as engineless airframes for ground training. [ Jackson 1962, p. 355.] The remaining aircraft served as communications and liaison aircraft, serving with No. 24 Sqn and numerous Station Flights throughout the UK until early 1939, but all had been grounded for use as instructional airframes by the time the war began.]Operators
;UK
*Royal Air Force
**No. 24 Squadron RAF
pecifications
aircraft specification
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=3
length main= 37 ft 4 in
length alt= 11.38 m
span main= 47 ft 6 in
span alt= 14.48 m
height main= 9 ft 5 in
height alt= 2.87 m
area main= 304 ft²
area alt= 28.24 m²
empty weight main= 5,050 lb
empty weight alt= 2,291 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
max takeoff weight main= 6,860 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 3,112 kg
engine (prop)=de Havilland Gipsy King
type of prop= inline piston engine
number of props=1
power main= 525 hp
power alt= 391 kw
max speed main= 189 mph
max speed alt= 304 km/h
range main= 890 miles
range alt= 1,432 km
ceiling main= 23,300 ft
ceiling alt= 7,100 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
armament=
ee also
aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=
lists=
*List of aircraft of the RAF
see also=
References
* "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)". London: Orbis Publishing, 1986. No ISBN.
* Jackson, A.J. "De Havilland Aircraft Since 1915". London, Putnam, 1962. No ISBN.
External links
* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=71 British Aircraft Directory]
