Development
The DH. 81 Swallow Moth was a low-wing cantilever monoplane. This arrangement and its plywood-covered fuselage and closely cowled 80 hp (60 kW) inline Gipsy IV engine gave it a very clean aerodynamic look. The wings carried ailerons that were horn-balanced at the wingtips and the empennage was of characteristic de Havilland form, with a balanced rudder. There was separate tandem seating for two, initially open, but later enclosed with a one-piece hinged cabin top. With this enclosure the aircraft was called the DH.81A and the top speed increased by 12 mph (19 km/h). The main undercarriage was simple, the legs reaching to mid-fuselage in front of the leading edge of the wing, with bracing struts fore and aft to the keel; the later Leopard Moth used a similar arrangement. A small tailskid completed the undercarriage. The Swallow Moth was first flown at Stag Lane Aerodrome byVariants
;DH.81 :Original configuration with a two-seat open cockpit. ;DH.81A :Prototype modified with an enclosed cabin and flown from November 1932.Specifications
References
Notes
Bibliography
* {{de Havilland aircraft 1930s British sport aircraft Swallow Moth Single-engined tractor aircraft Low-wing aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1931