Airco D.H.5

The Airco D.H.5 was an attempt to retain the outstanding forward visibility of pushers like the DH2 and FE.2b in a tractor biplane. It had severely negatively-staggered wings and -- while it accomplished its goal -- it left the pilot blind in the vital rear quarter.

It proved difficult to fly for new pilots, but once mastered it was aerobatic below. It was also strong, capable of withstanding high wing loading, and the fuselage was equally sturdy. Put all these factors together and you get a poor fighter aircraft but a good ground-attack aircraft, and it performed well in that role at Ypres and Cambrai, albeit with high losses due to its lack of armor for such dangerous work.

Eventually both RFC (&#x2116;24 and &#x2116;32) and Australian (&#x2116;41, 64, and 68) squadrons replaced their DH5s with SE.5a's.

Card Links

 * 41 Sqn RFC - Clark
 * 41 Sqn RFC - Clark

Aircraft Chart

1:144 Scale

 * Shapeways: Kampfflieger, Reduced Aircraft Factory

1:285/6mm/1:288 Scale

 * Shapeways: Kampfflieger, Reduced Aircraft Factory

1:600 Scale

 * Metal kit: