De Havilland Hornet

The de Havilland Hornet was a development of de Havilland's classic Mosquito designed as private venture for a long-range fighter for use in the Pacific Theater in the war against Japan. Specification F.12/43 was written around the type. The Hornet equipped Fighter Command day fighter units in the UK and later was used with success as a strike fighter in Malaya.

Related Topics:
De Havilland - Mosquito - Pacific Theater - Japan

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The Hornet, D.H.103 in the company's internal numbering scheme, first flew in 1944 and remained in service until 1956. Powered by twin "slimline" Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, it was the fastest piston-engined fighter in Royal Air Force service. The Hornet has the distinction of being the fastest operational twin propeller-driven aircraft ever flown by any of the world's air arms and the fastest wooden aircraft ever built.

Related Topics:
1944 - 1956 - Rolls-Royce Merlin - Propeller

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The Hornet was somewhat unusual in that it had propellers that rotated in opposite directions. To achieve this the engines were slightly different, hence the double Merlin marks of 130/131. The prototype achieved 780 km/h (485 mph) in level flight, which came down to 760 km/h (472 mph) in production aircraft.

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