de Havilland Aircraft Company
D.H.66 Hercules
The de Havilland DH.66 Hercules was a four‑engine long‑range transport aircraft introduced in 1926 by the British de Havilland Aircraft Company. Designed to meet the emerging demand for reliable intercontinental air service, the Hercules combined a sturdy wooden frame with a fabric‑covered wing structure and a steel tube fuselage, delivering a robust yet relatively lightweight airframe. Powered by four 420 hp Bristol Jupiter radial engines mounted on the low‑wing, it could cruise at 115 mph, carry up to 13 passengers or 2 000 lb of cargo, and attain a range of roughly 1 000 miles—performance that made it attractive to early airlines such as Imperial Airways and KLM, as well as to the Royal Air Force, which employed the type for transport and ferry duties.
The Hercules played a pivotal role in opening the skies between Europe, Africa and the Middle East, pioneering scheduled mail and passenger routes that laid the groundwork for modern commercial aviation networks. Its operational reliability, ease of maintenance, and ability to operate from improvised airstrips demonstrated the feasibility of long‑haul air travel in the 1920s and early 1930s, influencing subsequent transport designs and cementing de Havilland’s reputation as a leading aircraft manufacturer of the era.
The Hercules played a pivotal role in opening the skies between Europe, Africa and the Middle East, pioneering scheduled mail and passenger routes that laid the groundwork for modern commercial aviation networks. Its operational reliability, ease of maintenance, and ability to operate from improvised airstrips demonstrated the feasibility of long‑haul air travel in the 1920s and early 1930s, influencing subsequent transport designs and cementing de Havilland’s reputation as a leading aircraft manufacturer of the era.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1926
Design & Classification
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- de Havilland Aircraft Company
- Wikidata ID
- Q286903