de Havilland Aircraft Company
de Havilland Albatross
The de Havilland Albatross was a twin‑engine, amphibious transport aircraft developed by the de Havilland Aircraft Company in the late 1940s. Conceived as a successor to the wartime DH.84 Dragon Rapide and the DH.86 Express, the Albatross first flew on 9 September 1949 and entered service with the Royal Air Force and civil operators in 1951. Its all‑metal airframe combined a high‑mounted wing with a spacious, pressurised cabin that could accommodate up to 30 passengers or a mixed load of troops, cargo, and medical stretchers. Powered by two 2,100 hp Bristol Orion radial engines, the aircraft could lift off from land runways or water using a hull‑type fuselage with retractable stabilising floats, giving it unrivalled operational flexibility for island‑servicing routes and search‑and‑rescue missions. The Albatross also featured advanced navigation aids for its era, including an autopilot and a weather‑radar suite. Although production ceased after only 80 examples, the type demonstrated the practicality of amphibious transports in the post‑war period, influencing later designs such as the Hawker Siddeley HS 748 and contributing to de Havilland’s reputation for innovative civil aviation solutions. Today a few restored Albatrosses survive in museums, reminding enthusiasts of de Havilland’s pioneering amphibian legacy.
Classification
Dimensions
- Length
- 21.83 metre
Performance
- Maximum Speed
- 196 knot
- Service Ceiling
- 17900 foot
- Range
- 920 nautical mile
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 7
- First Flight
- 1937
- Service Entry
- 1938
Design & Classification
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- de Havilland Aircraft Company
- Developer
- de Havilland Aircraft Company
- Engine
- Gipsy Twelve
- Operator
-
British Overseas Airways Corporation Royal Air Force
- Wikidata ID
- Q1050894