The DH9 bomber was one of the first types of aircraft stationed at Duxford when it opened as an operational airfield100 years ago. In Duxford’s centenary year, this is a remarkable opportunity to see a newly restored DH9 aircraft being rebuilt by a team of skilled engineers.
E-8894 has been restored to flying condition by the Historic Aircraft Collection using an original Siddeley Puma engine and is the only First World War bomber flying anywhere in the world. It was recently awarded Best Civilian Aircraft at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2017.
Volunteers from Historic Aircraft Collection and IWM Duxford will be chatting to visitors about the DH9’s restoration and history. Visitors will also be able to see parts of the original aircraft and find out about the challenges of restoring rare historic aircraft.
Duxford’s centenary has been commemorated with the creation of DX17, Duxford’s first ever contemporary art installation which, through a dramatic large-scale sculpture, gives visitors the opportunity to hear up to 100 voices and memories from Duxford’s remarkable history. Visitors can hear about life during the early years of Duxford’s operational service, including pilot Frank Burslem talking about being attacked by a German aircraft whilst flying a DH9.
About the DH9 aircraft
The Airco/de Havilland DH9 was a First World War British bomber aircraft designed for strategic attacks on German cities, railways and airfields.
This DH9, E-8894, was built by the Aircraft Manufacturing Company (Airco) in 1918, but it is not known if it ever saw action. After the First World War it was sent to India under the Imperial Gift Scheme and transferred to the Maharaja of Bikaner along with DH9 D-5649 which can be seen in the AirSpace exhibition at IWM Duxford.
The DH9 was one of Britain’s first ‘strategic bombers’. It was supposed to replace the Airco DH4 but the DH9’s Siddeley Puma engine was not powerful or reliable enough for the job. The DH9 was itself replaced by the DH9a, which had an improved engine.
*Historic Aircraft Collection’s DH9 aircraft can be seen being rebuilt in the Air and Sea exhibition at IWM Duxford from Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 July. It may continue to be on static display in this exhibition after this date.
The opportunity to see Historic Aircraft’s Collection is included in general admission to IWM Duxford.
All information in this press release was correct at the time of going to press.
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For further press information please contact:
Esther Blaine on [email protected]/ 01223 499 320
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