THE AIRFORCE - AIRCRAFT - D.H.87B HORNET MOTH (MUSEUM)
Aircraft Stats:
Powerplant: 1 x 130hp de Havilland Gipsy Major inline piston engine
Speed: 200 kph, 124mph mph
Range: 998km, 620miles
Seats: 2
Length: 7.61m, 24ft 11in
Span: 9.73m, 11ft 11in
Empty Weight: 563kg, 1,241lb
Max T/O Weight: 885kg, 1,951lb
D.H.87B Hornet Moth (Museum)
Status: Museum
Manufacturer: De Havilland
Country of Manufacture: United Kingdom
Role: Utility
Nineteen civilian Hornet Moths were impressed into the SAAF and were also for communications between HQ and the air schools and operational training units.
Hornet Moth 2007 (c/n 8121) was registered ZS-ALA prior to SAAF service in 1940. It served as a trainer with 7 Air School and then 3 Air School prior to being used as a communications aircraft with 27 Squadron.
It was sold in 1946 and re-registered ZS-ALA. 22 years later, it found it's way back to the SAAF Museum and now serves in the SAAF Museum Historic Flight.
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