The de Havilland 60 series of light aircraft are the pre-World War II archetypal training, general aviation aircraft. Their size, cost and easy control made them ideally suited to the training of pilots during the inter-war period. They were the design progenitors of the de Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth, the aircraft that became the best known and widely used basic trainer, general aviation aircraft in the world. First produced in 1934, the DH82 is still a popular aircraft amongst vintage aircraft enthusiasts and the Tiger Moth still exists in significant numbers throughout the world.

The advent of the DH60 allowed the expansion of the aero club movement in Australia. Prior to this, prospective pilots were usually trained on ex-World War I aircraft such as the Avro 504K or the Curtiss JN-4D 'Jenny'. These aircraft were not always forgiving in their handling characteristics and the DH60 proved to be a far more amenable aircraft for the novice. The de Havilland 60 series also proved to be an adequate aircraft for long distance flights or other general aviation activities. A number of DH60s were used for record breaking attempts usually with success. Famous aviators such as Lores Bonney, Francis Chichester, Amy Johnson and CWA Scott, to name only a few, while Nancy Bird, after a period of 'barnstorming', established a commercial operation transporting the nurse for the Far West Children's Scheme around outback New South Wales in her DH60G.

For many people, pre-World War II, their first close contact with aviation came with a joy flight in a DH60 Moth and many also learned to fly on the ubiquitous Moth, with the Federal Government paying a bounty to the aero clubs for each pilot they trained who gained a licence. This bounty payment was based on the premise that licensed pilots would be a national asset in the event of war when they could be recruited into the RAAF and undergo shortened training to operational status because of their proficiency. Women pilots also achieved civil pilot's licences but were not accepted as military pilots during the Second World War. It is arguable that the acceptance of women into the aero club movement for pilot training furthered the cause of women's equality in the community.

During the 1920s the de Havilland Aircraft Company developed a line of light aircraft for the civilian post World War I market intended to be affordable and easy to fly. These aircraft were called after various types of moths in recognition of Geoffrey de Havilland's renown as a lepidopterist.

The first widely successful model introduced in 1925 was the DH 60 Cirrus Moth, a light civilian aircraft easy to fly, cheap to purchase and maintain, and small in size with folding wings thereby minimising hangar space. The DH 60 Cirrus Moth was powered by the ADC (Aircraft Disposal Company - also known as Airdisco ) Cirrus 1 engine rated at 60 horse power. It was a four cylinder aircooled in-line engine made using components from a 120 hp Airdisco (Renault) V8 engine. Towards the end of 1926 the Cirrus 1 Moth was superseded by the Cirrus II Moth powered by the 80 hp Cirrus II engine and in July 1927 the de Havilland Aircraft Company introduced the DH60X - a Cirrus II Moth with a strengthened airframe. The DH60X weighed 30 kg more than the Cirrus II Moth. Also in late 1926 de Havilland test pilot, Hubert Broad, tested the prototype DH 60 seaplane, a Cirrus II Moth fitted with the floats from the Short "Mussel" seaplane. The production seaplanes were slightly longer than the land planes to provide better control on the water. In 1927 a variation was introduced; the Gipsy Moth or DH60G, being more powerful and reliable - with the de Havilland designed and built Gipsy 1 engine rated at 100 hp. Many light plane records were broken in this aircraft around the world thereby advancing the cause of civil aviation. With its low purchase and maintenance costs, and manoeuvrability- and success in civilian pilot training, the DH 60 Moth was the ideal plane for use by the British military in training new pilots with the addition of several modifications including moving the top section forward and sweeping the wings back to improve pilot access and escape. Also, by installing the Gipsy IIIA engine, an inverted 4 cylinder engine, the pilot had an improved forward view. These modifications consequently became a new aircraft, the DH 82 Tiger Moth.

Further reading:
Winley, Bruce, Aussie Moths: De Havilland D.H.60 Moths in Australia, (Kiama, 1997)

The de Havilland 60 series of light aircraft are the pre-World War II archetypal training, general aviation aircraft. Their size, cost and easy control made them ideally suited to the training of pilots during the inter-war period. They were the design progenitors of the de Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth, the aircraft that became the best known and widely used basic trainer, general aviation aircraft in the world. First produced in 1934, the DH82 is still a popular aircraft amongst vintage aircraft enthusiasts and the Tiger Moth still exists in significant numbers throughout the world.

The prototype DH60 first flew on 22 February 1925 and was marketed as a personal use aircraft which was capable, because of its folding wings, to be kept in a home garage and towed behind the family car. This concept was rarely, if ever, employed in Australia with owners content to leave them in hangars or sheds adjacent to the field. The advent of the DH60 allowed the expansion of the aero club movement in Australia. Prior to this, prospective pilots were usually trained on ex-World War I aircraft such as the Avro 504K or the Curtiss JN-4D 'Jenny'. These aircraft were not always forgiving in their handling characteristics and the DH60 proved to be a far more amenable aircraft for the novice. The de Havilland 60 series also proved to be an adequate aircraft for long distance flights or other general aviation activities. A number of DH60s were used for record breaking attempts usually with success. Famous aviators such as Lores Bonney, Francis Chichester, Amy Johnson and CWA Scott, to name only a few, while Nancy Bird, after a period of 'barnstorming', established a commercial operation transporting the nurse for the Far West Children's Scheme around outback New South Wales in her DH60G.

Competitors to the DH60 were the Avro Avian, also used for notable flights and general aviation activities, Desoutter, Simmons Spartan, Westland Widgeon and Blackburn Bluebird but these aircraft were never produced in the same numbers as the DH60 series.

The Museum's DH60X was the second type, following on from the DH60. It used a strengthened DH60 fuselage and was fitted with an upgraded Cirrus II engine producing 75 bhp instead of the 65 bhp of the Cirrus I. Manufactured in 1927 at the de Havilland factory at Stag Lane, Edgeware, North London as constructor's number 614, and sold to the RAAF as a seaplane trainer, serial number A7-13 for use at Point Cook near Melbourne. A7-13 was one of 34 de Havilland 60X Moths ordered by the RAAF. Of these 20 were imported and 14 locally manufactured. Moth A7-13 was imported and, as it was manufactured as a seaplane, it served with No. 1 FTS Seaplane Training Flight. It was usually crewed by a naval pilot Lieutenant "Nobby" Hill and an RAAF mechanic, LAC Ern Skimmin (later Squadron Leader Skimmin). As part of the Federal Government's support of the aero club movement it was released from the RAAF in 1932 and placed on charge with the Tasmanian Aero Club as VH-UAU. It received its first civil Certificate of Airwothiness on 2/9/32 and it was used for training, club social events and competitions. It was known variously as "Dreamy Mary" or "Ricketty Kate". By 1937 the Tasmanian Aero Club decided to standardise their fleet on the more robust de Havilland 60G Gipsy Moth and in July of that year UAU's Certificate of Airworthiness was allowed to lapse pending its sale. Mr J F Mason of Koroit, Victoria, purchased it in March 1938 and in September of that year sold it to Aviation Schools Pty Ltd of Hamilton, Victoria. When the Second World War began UAU was not reimpressed into the RAAF as other Moths were. It was sold to Mr W Stillard of Deniliquin in NSW in February 1943. Six months later it was badly damaged in a take-off accident at Barellan, NSW when it struck an obstacle and the port wingtip dug into the ground. "Silvereye", as Mr Stillard called UAU was sold in a damaged state to Mr H C Mark of Deniliquin. Mr Mark repaired the aircraft but did not renew its Certificate of Airworthiness. Post-war UAU was fitted with a re-inverted Gipsy Major engine and oil operated gyroscopic instruments. The Department of Civil Aviation files show the aircraft as being flown during 1948 and 49 with no Certificate of Airworthiness although air route charges had been paid for those years. Mr Mark indicated that the aircraft was for personal use, flown from private property on rare test flights. The aircraft was deleted from the Civil Register in August 1951 and consigned to a shed on Mr Mark's property. In 1963 the aircraft was brought to the attention of the Museum's Curator, Norman Harwood and acquired by the Museum. Transport of the Cirrus Moth to Museum storage was accomplished in 1964 with the assistance of the RAAF Support Command and the RAAF Base, Wagga.

Aircraft, full-size with parts and collection of Government guidebooks, logbooks and paper articles, 'Cirrus Moth' de Havilland 60X VH-UAU, timber / metal / paper, made by the de Havilland Aircraft Company, United Kingdom, 1927 and the RAAF, Australia, 1927-c. 1950

Consisting of:
'Cirrus Moth' aircraft, DH60X VH-UAU
'Cirrus Moth' engine, Mark II/59
Gypsy Major Series 1 aero-engine no. 442
Cirrus aero-engine Mark II/283
Spare propeller "Perfectus"
propeller DH Gipsy Major
Collection of Government (RAAF) official guidebooks, logbooks & paper articles related to air transport collection.

Made: de Havilland Aircraft Company; United Kingdom; 1927

B1571

1927