DH.60 Moth

The de Havilland DH.60 Moth, introduced in 1925, was the first aircraft produced by the newly formed de Havilland Aircraft Company and quickly became a cornerstone of civil aviation. Designed by Geoffrey de Havilland as a low‑cost, two‑seat biplane, the Moth featured a wooden frame, fabric covering, and a simple 60‑horsepower Cirrus engine that offered reliable performance and easy maintenance. Its open cockpit, tandem seating, and modest wingspan of 27 ft (8.3 m) gave pilots excellent visibility and handling, making it ideal for flight training, leisure flying, and light commercial work.

The DH.60’s affordability and straightforward construction sparked an unprecedented boom in private and club aviation in the United Kingdom and abroad. It served as the basis for a family of variants, including the three‑seat DH.61 Giant Moth, the high‑performance DH.80A Puss Moth, and numerous licensed copies built in the United States and Germany. Over 1,400 Moths were built before production ended in the late 1930s, and many remained in service throughout World II as trainers and liaison aircraft.

The Moth’s legacy is evident in the popularization of personal flying, the establishment of flying clubs, and its influence on later light aircraft designs, cementing de Havilland’s reputation as an innovator.

de Havilland Aircraft Company

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification