The de Havilland DH.66 Hercules was a 1920s British seven-passenger, three-engined airliner built by De Havilland Aircraft Company at Stag Lane Aerodrome. As a more modern replacement for the D.H.10s used on the RAF's air-mail service, Imperial Airways used the Hercules effectively to provide long-distance service to far-flung regions. Although the giant airliners were slow and cumbersome, they pointed the way for airliners in the future. ^[1] An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, and/or spacecraft. ... For other uses, see De Havilland (disambiguation). ... The Maiden flight of an aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1926: Events United Airlines established. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar). ... The Imperial Airways Empire Terminal, Victoria, London. ... The South African Air Force roundel The South African Air Force (SAAF) (Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag) is the air force of South Africa. ... For other uses, see De Havilland (disambiguation). ... Stag Lane Aerodrome was a private aerodrome between 1915 and 1933 located in Edgware, London, England. ...

Design and development

The Hercules was designed for Imperial Airways when they took over the air-mail service from Cairo to Baghdad from the Royal Air Force. The design was a three-engined biplane with room for seven passengers and the ability to carry mail. The prototype first flew on 30 September 1926, and an order for five aircraft was received from Imperial Airways. The type name Hercules was chosen in a competition in the Meccano Magazine in June 1926. The Imperial Airways Empire Terminal, Victoria, London. ... Nickname: Al Qahirah (The Triumphant City) Egypt: Site of Cairo (top center) Coordinates: Government  - Governor Dr. Abdul Azim Wazir Area  - City 214 km²  (82. ... Baghdad (Arabic: ) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1926: Events United Airlines established. ... Cover of Meccano Magazine, February 1963. ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar). ...

Operational service

An inaugural flight between Croydon and India left the United Kingdom on 27 December 1926, and arrived in Delhi on the 8 January 1927. West Australia Airlines ordered four aircraft to replace the DH.50. On the 2 June 1927, the first service on the Perth-Adelaide route was carried out. Imperial Airways ordered two more aircraft but it lost three aircraft in accidents between September 1929 and April 1930. To replace the lost aircraft, two were purchased from West Australia Airways. December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (362nd in leap years). ... Year 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar). ... Delhi   (Hindi: , Urdu: , Punjabi: ) is the second-largest metropolis in India after Mumbai with a population of 13 million. ... January 8 is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar). ... The de Havilland DH.50 was a 1920s British large single-engined biplane transport built by De Havilland Aircraft Company at Stag Lane Aerodrome, Edgware and licence built in Australia, Belgium and Czechoslovakia. ... June 2 is the 153rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (154th in leap years), with 212 days remaining. ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar). ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ...

Imperial Airways DH.66 Hercules

The Imperial Airways aircraft were withdrawn from service in December 1935 following another crash in Southern Rhodesia in November 1935. Three aircraft were sold to South African Air Force. One of the Australian aircraft survived until 1942 when it was destroyed by enemy action. 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... The South African Air Force roundel The South African Air Force (SAAF) (Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag) is the air force of South Africa. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ...

Operators

•  Australia
  • West Australia Airways
•  South Africa
  • South African Air Force
•  United Kingdom
  • Imperial Airways

Image File history File links Flag_of_Australia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Africa_1928-1994. ... The South African Air Force roundel The South African Air Force (SAAF) (Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag) is the air force of South Africa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The Imperial Airways Empire Terminal, Victoria, London. ...

Specifications (DH.65A)

General characteristics

• Crew: 3
• Length: 31 ft (9.45 m)
• Wingspan: 45 ft (13.72)
• Height: 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
• Wing area: 462 ft² (42.9 m²)
• Empty weight: 9,060 lb (4,110 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 15,600 lb (7,076 kg)
• Powerplant: 3× Bristol Jupiter VI radial piston, 420 hp (313 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 128 mph (206 km/h)
• Range: 525 miles (845 km)
• Service ceiling: 13,000 ft (3960 m)

The distance AB is the wing span of this Aer Lingus Airbus A320. ... In aviation, the Maximum Take-Off Weight (or MTOW) is the maximum weight with which an aircraft is allowed to try to achieve flight. ... Bristol Jupiter engine The Bristol Jupiter was a British 9-cylinder one-row piston radial engine used in the 1930s and 1940s aircraft. ... VNO of an aircraft is the V speed which refers to the velocity of normal operation. ... The maximal total range is the distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing as limited by its fuel capacity. ... In aeronautics, the service ceiling is the maximum density altitude where the best rate of climb airspeed will produce a 100 feet per minute climb(twin engine) and 50 feet(single engine) at maximum weight while in a clean configuration with maximum continuous power. ...

Reference

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.
• Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919, Volume 2. London: Putnam, 1974. ISBN 0-370-10010-7.

External links

• British Aircraft Directory

Related content

Related lists

• List of aircraft of the South African Air Force

A list of aircraft of the South African Air Force. ...