de Havilland DH.60X Moth

The de Havilland Moth was designed in 1924 to meet the needs of the increasing civil aviation movement in the United Kingdom.

The DH60 first flew in February 1925 and was an immediate success. Such was the confidence placed in the design that three months later Alan Cobham flew the aircraft from Croydon to Zurich and returned the same day, a distance of 1,000 miles.

Further developments were made to strengthen the airframe and redesign the undercarriage to accommodate the more powerful Cirrus II engine. In addition, fuel capacity was increased to improve the flying range and the resultant aircraft was known as the DH.60X Moth.

About this aircraft

G-EBWD was built in 1928 and used by the Brooklands School of Flying. Richard Shuttleworth learnt to fly in ‘BWD which he purchased in 1932 as his first aeroplane. It was originally powered by a 65hp Cirrus I engine but in 1933 it was re-engined with a 105hp Cirrus Hermes II. It escaped being impressed into the RAF during the Second World War and survived in storage at Old Warden. This DH.60X Moth performs regularly at flying displays at Old Warden.

Specification