de Havilland DH.16

Конец Первой мировой войны был неудачным временем для появления новых гражданских самолетов на рынке, переполненном дешевыми бывшими военными аэропланами. Было много попыток конверсии военных моделей. Самолет DH.16 являлся реконструированным аэропланом DH.9A ДальшеMore>>> с более высоким фюзеляжем для размещения четырех пассажиров в закрытом салоне. После первого полета в Хендоне в марте 1919 года DH.16 продали компании "Aircraft Transport & Travel Ltd." для прогулочных полетов. Затем 25 августа 1919 года эта машина открыла авиалинию между Лондоном и Парижем.
   Всего сделали девять DH.16. Все, кроме одного, летали в компании AT&T. Одну машину продали заказчику в Буэнос-Айрес, откуда она совершала рейсы в Монтевидео. Первые шесть экземпляров имели моторы Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII мощностью 320 л. с. (239 кВт), а на последние три установили более мощные Napier Lion. Компанию AT&T закрыли в декабре 1920 года. Семь ее уцелевших DH.16 (один разбился) сдали на хранение.


ТАКТИКО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКИЕ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ

   de Havilland DH.16

   Тип: легкий пассажирский самолет с одним пилотом
   Силовая установка: W-образный поршневой мотор Napier Lion мощностью 450 л. с. (336 кВт)
   Летные характеристики: максимальная скорость 219 км/ч на оптимальной высоте; крейсерская скорость 161 км/ч на оптимальной высоте; начальная скороподъемность 305 м/мин; практический потолок 6400 м; дальность полета 684 км
   Масса: пустого самолета 1431 кг; максимальная взлетная 2155 кг
   Размеры: размах крыльев 14,17 м; длина 9,68 м; высота 3,45 м; площадь крыльев 45,50 м2
   Полезная нагрузка: до четырех пассажиров

Flight, December 1919

THE PARIS AERO SHOW 1919

PRELIMINARY REPORT ON BRITISH SECTION

The Aircraft Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Airco)

   The main exhibit on this firm's stand will be the new Airco (D.H.) 16. Machines of similar type are, of course, already familiar from extensive use on the London-Paris air route, but the show machine will differ in several respects from the standard type. The chief alteration will be found in the engine unit, which, in the show machine, will be a 450 h.p. Napier Lion instead of the Rolls-Royce with which the standard machine has been doing such excellent work. The fitting of the Lion has necessitated a slight alteration to the nose of the machine, as the new engine is of the "broad arrow" type instead of the usual Vee. The result is a slightly shorter and somewhat differently shaped nose, as shown in the accompanying silhouette. The radiator is no longer fitted in the nose of the fuselage, but is placed some distance back, and protrudes through the floor of the body, much in the same manner as that of the Airco 9R on which Capt. Gathergood recently established a series of British records. The employment of the higher-powered engine has naturally resulted in a considerably increased performance. The machine is to be shown in full "show finish," with white body, polished aluminium cowl and nickel-plated exhaust pipes, black undercarriage struts and tail skid, and cream wings and tail surfaces.
   The cabin, as in the standard Airco 16, is designed to accommodate four passengers, two facing forward and two facing aft. It is most luxuriously finished, and will give visitors an excellent idea of air travel de luxe.

Flight, January 1920

The Paris Aero Show 1919

The Aircraft Manufacturing Co. (Airco)

   The main exhibit on this stand is the beautiful new Airco 16, which, as it happens, is shown to the best possible advantage by the fact that the neighbouring stand - the Ansaldo - is empty, thus allowing one a better view of the Airco than is possible to obtain of most of the machines at the show. The new Airco 16 is very similar, generally speaking, to previous machines carrying this series number, and which have been doing such excellent service on the London-Paris air route. It is, however, now fitted with a 450 h.p. Napier Lion aero engine, which has necessitated a slight alteration to the nose of the machine. The manner in which the installation of the Lion has been effected is a credit to the designers, the nose being a very graceful appearance and, at the same time, a very efficient arrangement both from the aerodynamical and from the engineering point of view. The radiator is placed, as in some of the previous models, projecting through the floor of the fuselage, but it is now rigidly fixed. To vary the cooling as desired a very ingenious arrangement has been designed. This is illustrated by some of the accompanying sketches. The floor of the nose of the fuselage is formed by a series of slats, shaped somewhat like ordinary wing sections. These slats are pivoted and operated by cables from the pilot's seat. When the shutter formed by these slats is closed the floor of the body makes a smooth unbroken curve, with only a short length of radiator projecting. According to the amount of opening of the shutter, the amount of air admitted to the radiator is varied, until when the slats are horizontal, the maximum of air is admitted to the space around the radiator.
   The machine is finished to the highest degree, and it looks extremely well in its "show paint.” The pilot’s seat and passengers’ accommodation are arranged as in earlier models, i.e., the pilot sits in front of the cabin, where, by the way, his view cannot be particularly good, while the four passengers face alternately aft and foreward. The cabin is most luxuriously finished in keeping with the rest of the machine. A two-way wireless telephone outfit by Marconis is carried, which allows the pilot to speak up to a distance of 100 miles and to receive messages from a similar distance.