D.H.50

The de Havilland DH.50 was a single‑engine, high‑wing monoplane developed in the early 1920s as a transport and mail‑plane derivative of the successful DH.9A bomber. First flown in 1923, the aircraft was built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company at Stag Lane and later at Hatfield, and several hundred airframes were produced for civil and military operators worldwide. Powered by a 450 hp (336 kW) Rolls‑Royce Eagle or later a 650 hp (485 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Puma, the DH.50 featured a spacious, fully enclosed cabin that could accommodate up to six passengers or a comparable cargo load, a significant comfort improvement over the open cockpits of its predecessors. Its sturdy wooden construction, fixed undercarriage with split‑axle design, and relatively low landing speed made it well suited to the rough airfields of remote colonial routes. The type pioneered long‑distance airmail services, notably on the Cairo–Baghdad and the England‑Australia routes, and it served as the basis for the military DH.50J and the later de Havilland Dragon series. By demonstrating reliable performance, passenger comfort, and operational versatility, the DH.50 helped establish de Havilland’s reputation as a leading commercial aircraft manufacturer in the interwar era.

de Havilland Aircraft Company

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Design & Classification