On page 85/46 a photo of Brantly CX-AXD also showed an Argentine Aero 45. Alex Reinhard responded immediately by sending this shot of the same aircraft LV-FJV in damaged condition at San Justo, Buenos Aires, in 1969.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Aero Ae.45 Kocsag - ЧехословакияCzechoslovakia - 1947

The first Moth Minor photograph in our collection was taken on 18.8.37 two months after first flight. The cockpit shape can clearly be seen to have been modified by infilling but the original shape matches drawings of the open-cockpit DH.81. This may merely be due to the coincidence of designer but there is another common factor. Behind the engine cowling there appears to be a hole which relates closely to the position of attachment points for the braced Swallow Moth style undercarriage. Clearly visible is the tailwheel position forward of the rudder (the DH.81 had a skid not a wheel) and also the anticlockwise propeller rotation.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Moth Minor / D.H.94 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

The coupe marked E6 must be the same aircraft as the one above. In every way major and even minor features match, with the obvious exception of the small section of fin removed. This cannot be related to the raised tailplane position in the previous shot as it is noticeably higher, either the result of further tailplane experiments or a reduction in fin area. No date is known, but from negative numbers it would seem to be quite soon after the last photo, however "under B Conditions" quotes E6 as being in use from 6.38.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Moth Minor / D.H.94 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

The South African demonstrator ZS-ARE c/n 94005 showing that antispin strakes were fitted to even the earliest production aircraft though not to the three in the previous photo.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Moth Minor / D.H.94 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

A final comparison with the earlier side views is this shot of G-AFTH c/n 94040 which was used by the manufacturers as a communications aircraft before being impressed as HM585 in October 1942.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Moth Minor / D.H.94 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

Formerly G-AFNF, c/n 94010, F-PFYR was fitted with a fully glazed coupe top of local design. It was cancelled during the sixties.
The Calais-based Moth Minor F-PFYR, which visited Lympne on 26/7/59 for the Bleriot celebrations, has a non-standard French-built coupe top. It was formerly F-BFYR, ex G-AFNF, c/n. 94010.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Moth Minor / D.H.94 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

Next we have the photograph of three different Moth Minors - as shown in Air-Britain DIGEST of July/August 1983 in the 'What Do You Know?' feature. In the foreground E6, if it is the same aircraft, has been stripped of the canopy and decking but retains a streamlined headrest to the rear cockpit. The dorsal fillet and thicker wing root are clearly identifiable, the tailwheel has been moved to the rear of the fuselage box section but the propeller rotation is still apparently anticlockwise.
In the centre E7 shows standard production coupe features, other than the absence of anti-spin strakes. We are told that the true coupe version flew experimentally in the summer of 1938 and was changed little in production. This photo clearly shows clockwise rotation of E7 and E8 which indicates production engines (ie: post 3.39), while E6 is said to have become G-AFSD in 5.39, possibly these points provide an approximate dating for the picture. On the third aircraft the registration is obscured but the colour scheme is sufficiently unique and is identical to other published photos of E8 taken between 7.38 and 8.39. Although it is unidentified E8 could be one of the early production aircraft which went overseas - do we have photos which could suggest or eliminate any possible candidates?

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Moth Minor / D.H.94 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

Next we see further modifications to the same aircraft as at 1.10.37. The tailplane has been raised well clear of the rear fuselage decking and the original location of the bracing strut is clearly visible on the lower fuselage. The cockpit sides have again been modified, this time to a less rounded profile, and a mysterious addition has been made to the top of the cowling - perhaps a thin baffle or cooling device? The propeller apparently still rotates anticlockwise and the tailwheel remains unchanged.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Moth Minor / D.H.94 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

Chronologically, the next photograph is of an unmarked coupe version, dated 29.10.37. Only the front cockpit is glazed and in this form the aircraft could surely not be flown from the rear - in any case it was normal procedure to fly the Moth Minor from the front cockpit. The nature of the modification makes it more likely that this was intended to test the aerodynamics of an enclosed cockpit version. Some rather crude wiring can be seen below the cockpit, possibly for airflow or wing loading tests? This certainly seems to be the same aircraft as in the earlier photos, the propeller rotation is definitely anticlockwise, the tailwheel position is unchanged but the tailplane has returned to the lower position.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Moth Minor / D.H.94 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1937

Another Staggerwing - but as photos of Bolivian-registered examples are none too common this certainly merits inclusion. CP-613 was c/n 4902 and was seen rather the worse for wear at Cochabamba, Bolivia in May-June 1976. The right main undercarriage appears to have collapsed and the port wing strut is almost completely detached from the upper wing with additional damage to the aileron. The aircraft did survive however and after surgery became N2277Z as which it is still current.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing - СШАUSA - 1932

DH.81A Swallow Moth

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: De Havilland Swallow Moth / D.H.81 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1931