First of the family

摘要

Progress in constructing the first DH60 was more rapid than anticipated. Allocated works'number 168, it was registered G-EBKT on 10 February 1925. Ten days later, ADC Cirrus I engine No 1 was finally installed, and on the 21 st a ground run was concluded with some satisfaction. The weather over the north London suburb of Edgware on the afternoon of Sunday 22 February 1925 was cold and dull with overcast skies. The DH60, its wooden fuselage at that stage painted in primer only, was trundled out onto the muddy aerodrome in the early afternoon and the engine test-run again before the historic first flight, which lasted for 20 minutes. Capt de Havilland reported on landing that, apart from an indication of fluctuating engine revolutions, all appeared to be as well as expected. Following a satisfactory ground check, the Captain took off with company test pilot Hubert Broad in the front seat. They landed a quarter of an hour later and the aeroplane was put away. It remained un-flown for the next four days, during which period its fuselage was painted a very dark blue and sign-written with the name 'Moth'.