DH.6 (Total: 1,482, Canadian: 72, Group 0)
Airco DH.6

The Airco DH.6 was a British military trainer biplane used by the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. Known by various nicknames, including the "Clutching Hand" and "Skyhook", many survived to be used as a civil light aircraft in the postwar era.
The DH.6 was specifically designed as a military trainer, at a time when it was usual for obsolete service types to be used in this role. Geoffrey de Havilland seems to have had two design criteria in mind. The first was that it should be inexpensive and easy to build, and above all, simple to repair after the mishaps common in training units. The top and bottom wings were square-cut and interchangeable, hence roundels often located in unusual positions. They were heavily cambered, and braced with cables rather than streamlined wires. On the original version of the type there was no stagger. Even the fin and rudder, on the prototype of the usual curved de Havilland outline, were cut square on production machines. The fuselage structure was a straight box with no attempt at refinement of outline "“ instructor and pupil sat in tandem on basketwork seats in a single cockpit, spartan even by the standards of the time. The standard engine was the readily available 90 hp (67 kW) RAF 1a. Because of its use in the B.E.2 the engine was familiar to RFC mechanics. No cowling was used, and upswept straight exhaust pipes were fitted. When stocks of the RAF 1a ran short, other engines were fitted, including the 80 hp (60 kW) Renault.
The second design criterion was that the new trainer should be relatively safe to fly, both for the student and his instructor. RFC instructors at the time referred to student pilots as "Huns" (the term normally applied to German airmen) and casualties at training schools were high. To improve safety the instructor could decouple the student's controls to avoid having to wrestle with him. The new trainer's flying characteristics were selected to achieve the desired safety. De Havilland had carried out extensive research into stability and control in aircraft while with the Royal Aircraft Factory, which helped in designing a safe but deliberately unstable aircraft. As a result, the DH.6 had very gentle flying characteristics and was probably the most "forgiving" aircraft of its time, allowing itself to be flown "crab wise" in improperly banked turns and able to maintain sustained flight at speeds as low as 30 miles per hour (48 km/h).
In fact, the DH.6 was described as "too safe" to make a good trainer, as its reaction to inexpert piloting was too gentle to prepare pilots for combat aircraft such as the Sopwith Camel, whose handling was unusually difficult even for the era. With its low power, strong construction and lack of streamlining, its maximum speed was very low. Wikipedia
DH.6 serial C1381
s/n C1381
C 1381
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1382
s/n C1382
C 1382
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1383
s/n C1383
C 1383
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1384
s/n C1384
C 1384
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1385
s/n C1385
C 1385
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1386
s/n C1386
C 1386
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1387
s/n C1387
C 1387
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1388
s/n C1388
C 1388
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1389
s/n C1389
C 1389
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1390
s/n C1390
C 1390
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1391
s/n C1391
C 1391
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1392
s/n C1392
C 1392
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1393
s/n C1393
C 1393
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1394
s/n C1394
C 1394
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1395
s/n C1395
C 1395
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1396
s/n C1396
C 1396
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1397
s/n C1397
C 1397
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1398
s/n C1398
C 1398
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1399
s/n C1399
C 1399
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1400
s/n C1400
C 1400
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1401
s/n C1401
C 1401
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1402
s/n C1402
C 1402
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1403
s/n C1403
C 1403
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1404
s/n C1404
C 1404
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1405
s/n C1405
C 1405
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1406
s/n C1406
C 1406
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1407
s/n C1407
C 1407
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1408
s/n C1408
C 1408
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1409
s/n C1409
C 1409
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1410
s/n C1410
C 1410
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1411
s/n C1411
C 1411
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1412
s/n C1412
C 1412
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1413
s/n C1413
C 1413
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1414
s/n C1414
C 1414
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1415
s/n C1415
C 1415
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1416
s/n C1416
C 1416
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1417
s/n C1417
C 1417
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1418
s/n C1418
C 1418
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1419
s/n C1419
C 1419
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1420
s/n C1420
C 1420
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1421
s/n C1421
C 1421
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1422
s/n C1422
C 1422
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1423
s/n C1423
C 1423
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1424
s/n C1424
C 1424
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1425
s/n C1425
C 1425
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1426
s/n C1426
C 1426
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1427
s/n C1427
C 1427
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1428
s/n C1428
C 1428
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1429
s/n C1429
C 1429
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1430
s/n C1430
C 1430
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1431
s/n C1431
C 1431
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1432
s/n C1432
C 1432
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1433
s/n C1433
C 1433
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1434
s/n C1434
C 1434
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1435
s/n C1435
C 1435
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1436
s/n C1436
C 1436
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1437
s/n C1437
C 1437
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1438
s/n C1438
C 1438
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1439
s/n C1439
C 1439
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1440
s/n C1440
C 1440
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1441
s/n C1441
C 1441
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1442
s/n C1442
C 1442
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1443
s/n C1443
C 1443
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1444
s/n C1444
C 1444
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1445
s/n C1445
C 1445
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1446
s/n C1446
C 1446
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1447
s/n C1447
C 1447
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1448
s/n C1448
C 1448
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1449
s/n C1449
C 1449
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C1450
s/n C1450
C 1450
Known Units:
Believed to be ordered from Canadian Aeroplanes, but order cancelled with end of war. This is reported in Robertson, 1987 edition, not reported elsewhere.last update: 2025-February-05
DH.6 serial C5172
s/n C5172
The Kingsbury Aviation Co. Ltd.
C 5172
Known Units: ;156
last update: 2025-June-01
DH.6 serial C7890
s/n C7890
C 7890
Known Units: ;242
last update: 2025-June-01