The D.H.2 biplane was Geoffrey de Havilland's second design for the Aircraft Manufacturing Company. This highly successful pusher had good maneuverability with an excellent rate of climb. Mounting the engine to the rear of the fuselage permitted the use of a fixed, forward-firing machine gun before the advent of the synchronous machine gun. Superior to the Fokker E.III, the D.H.2 helped end the "Fokker Scourge." Well past its prime and almost two years after its introduction, some squadrons of the British Royal Flying Corps were still equipped with D.H.2s.

"... the de Havilland machine has unquestionably proved itself superior to the Fokker in speed, manoeuverability, climbing and general fighting efficiency." Sir Henry Rawlinson, 23 May 1916

Includes two sound files:
Gnôme Monosoupape, 9 cylinder 100 hp, air cooled rotary engine: trigger - engine
Short burst from the .303 Lewis machine gun: trigger - gun

For the derivable Airco DH2 just click the thumbnail below!


The plane is in the sky to simulate flight...look up!