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Aviation History
1939
1939 - 1992.PDF
FLIGHT, a — June 29, 1939. "V The Moth Minor in its final production form. This particular machine is one for South Africa. MOTH SUCCESSOR THE object behind the particular layout of the Moth Minor, which is now in quantity production at Hat field, may briefly be given as that of providing adequate performance at the lowest possible initial and later costs. Performance, in this case, includes not only a useful cruising speed, but also a short take-off run, reasonable comfort for the pilot and passenger and, in fact, all the features which make for practicability in a touring aeroplane. Economy both in manufacture and maintenance has been assisted by the standardisation of parts wherever possible, and by the use of sufficient engine power to ensure that the unit is normally working well within its capabilities. There is little unorthodox about either the structure or the general layout, though, as far as light aeroplanes are concerned, this is the first low-wing cantilever monoplane to be produced by the De Havilland Company and, when considered as a direct successor to the original Moth family, serves to show, in the circumstances, the finality of present trends. Since De Havillands have never produced a tourer or trainer which was not essentially orthodox, the low- wing type can from now on be so described. The Minor's Background The history of the Moth Minor has been an interesting one. In the days when the Gorell Committee's report sug gested that in due course all privately owned machines would be free from the necessity of possessing a normal C of A, the prototype Minor was designed to take advan tage of this prospective legislation change, and so be pro duced at a considerably lower price than had previously been considered possible. The type was to be made for private ownership without official supervision, but still in fairly large numbers. Later on—actually before the Civil Air Guard scheme came into being—a change was made in the firm's plans, and it was decided to produce the machine both in trainer and tourer form on a mass- production basis. Consequently the Minor's layout has all the simplicity and ruggedness which one would expect in a machine for decontrolled use, while now being fully certificated both for normal and aerobatic work. An in direct result of these circumstances in the machine's develop- The New Moth Minor Described An Inexpensive Type for Training and Ownership : Simplicity and Standardisation (Illustrated with "Flight" photographs and sketches)
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