de Havilland Don

The Don was designed to meet Air Ministry Specification T.6/36 for a multi-role trainer and was a single-engined monoplane of wooden stressed-skin construction. The DH.93 Don was intended to be a trainer for pilots and radio operators, and as a gunnery trainer, the gunnery requirement involved the mounting of a dorsal gun turret. Student pilot and instructor sat side by side up front, while accommodation for a trainee WT (radio) operator and the turret gunner was behind in the cabin.{{cite web |last=Dell |first=John |title=de Havilland DH93 Don |url=http://freespace.virgin.net/john.dell/Don/Don.htm |work=Dinger's Aviation Pages |access-date=25 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412160341/http://freespace.virgin.net/john.dell/Don/Don.htm |archive-date=12 April 2013 }}

The prototype with test marks E-3 (later military serial number L2387) first flew on 18 June 1937 and was transferred to RAF Martlesham Heath for official evaluation. In the course of the trials, more equipment was added which increased the weight, and as a result, in an attempt to reduce weight, the dorsal turret was removed. The aircraft was also modified with small auxiliary fins fitted beneath the tailplane.Jackson 1962, p. 354.

Despite the changes incorporated from the fifth aircraft,Jackson 1962, p. 354. the type was deemed not suitable for training and the original order for 250 aircraft was reduced to only 50 aircraft, 20 of which were delivered as engineless airframes for ground training.Jackson 1962, p. 355. The remaining aircraft served as communications and liaison aircraft, serving with No. 24 Sqn and numerous RAF Station Flights throughout the UK until early 1939, but all were grounded for use as instructional airframes in March 1939.Ford 2003, p. 75.

;{{UK}}

• Royal Air Force
• No. 24 Squadron RAF
• station flights

{{Aircraft specs

|prime units?=imp

|ref=de Havilland Aircraft since 1909Jackson 1987, p. 389.

|crew=1

|capacity=2 passengers

|length ft=37

|length in=4

|span ft=47

|span in=6

|height ft=9

|height in=5

|wing area sqft=304

|airfoil=RAF 34 modified{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}

|empty weight lb=5050

|gross weight lb=6530

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=de Havilland Gipsy King

|eng1 type=V-12 inverted air-cooled piston engine

|eng1 hp=525

|prop blade number=2

|prop name=variable-pitch propeller

|max speed mph=189

|range miles=890

|ceiling ft=23300

|climb rate ftmin=820

}}

{{aircontent

|related=

|similar aircraft=

|lists=

• List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force

|see also=

}}

{{reflist}}

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1986. No ISBN.
• Ford, Daniel. "Outmoded Teacher: de Havilland's Don Crew Trainer". Air Enthusiast 105, May/June 2003, pp. 74–75. {{ISSN|0143-5450}}.
• Jackson, A.J. de Havilland Aircraft Since 1915. London, Putnam, 1962. No ISBN.
• Jackson, A.J. de Havilland Aircraft since 1909. London:Putnam, Third edition, 1987. {{ISBN|0-85177-802-X}}.

{{commons category|lcfirst=yes}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194336/http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=71 De Havilland Don] – British Aircraft Directory

{{de Havilland aircraft}}

Category:1930s British military utility aircraft

Category:Low-wing aircraft

Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft

Don

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1937

Category:Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear

Category:Single-engined piston aircraft