Special Offer Books

Bruce Leatherbarrow

Editor: Rod Simpson

When de Havilland conceived the DH.125 as a replacement for its successful Dove and Heron, it could not have expected that more than 1,700 would be built over a period of more than 50 years. The 125 family would be built by several organisations and go through several upgrades during its life including a fuselage stretch for the Series 1000. It has borne various names during its service life but it quickly became known as the ‘Hawker’ by its hundreds of enthusiastic operators.

While it was one of the earliest types designed specifically as a business jet, it was built to serve a wide range of customers including military air arms with the RAF operating Dominies from 1965 to 2011 and special missions variants delivered to Japan and other countries. The largest corporate and private market was the USA and it was almost inevitable that, in 1993, the Hawker would be sold to Raytheon. Production was gradually moved to Wichita, Kansas where Raytheon (and later Hawker Beechcraft) continued to build the Series 800 and then the 750 and 900XP until the line was closed in June 2012.

Every aircraft has an interesting history, from the day it left the production line to the end of its service. Passing through the hands of several owners and spending many hours in the air, Hawkers have served many companies, individuals and military forces. Each aircraft is recorded in the production histories volume with details of dates and registration changes, along with the mishaps and, finally, the end of life in a scrapyard. This is the authoritative source for every detail of an outstanding business jet.

This is a two-volume set: Volume 1 contains a lavishly illustrated narrative history of the type while Volume 2 contains detailed production histories. The two volumes are not available separately.

Volume 1: Hardback, 160 pages, colour
Volume 2: Softback, 144 pages, black and white

Members £40.00 Non-members £60.00

Building on Success – Establishing a New Future
Stuart McKay MBE

Having designed military aeroplanes at the start of his aviation career, Captain Geoffrey de Havilland was anxious to redirect his talents towards civil applications. His opportunity came in 1920 when he was encouraged and funded by his previous employer, George Holt Thomas, to start his own company.

Business was slow and the company was on the point of financial collapse when a wealthy young sportsman named Alan Butler appeared on the scene in 1923 and commissioned a three-seat touring biplane. Butler was so impressed with the service provided by the company that he became a major investor and eventually joined the board as Director and Chairman.

The financial security provided by Alan Butler allowed Geoffrey de Havilland to pursue his dream of designing a small civil aeroplane suitable for the ‘man in the street’. The result was the DH.60 Moth of 1925 which became a worldwide success. Continued development of the airframe and engine plus an understanding of customers’ requirements led directly to the revolutionary DH.80 Puss Moth in 1929, the first of the practical ‘private owner’ Cabin Moths.

This book covers the story of four of de Havilland’s Cabin Moths: the DH.80 Puss Moth, DH.83 Fox Moth, DH.85 Leopard Moth and DH.87 Hornet Moth, their design, construction, development, marketing and operation.

The story starts in the golden age of aviation in the 1930s with personalities such as Amy Johnson, Jim Mollison, Bert Hinkler and Alex Henshaw, long-distance record flights to South Africa, India and Australia, air race successes and the opening of air services in remote areas of Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the book continues through World War II and communications duties. We come right up to the present day and thriving Cabin Moth restoration programmes. As is to be expected from a book produced by Air-Britain, extensive histories for each aircraft are included.

Author Stuart McKay is the Founding Secretary of the DH Moth Club and Editor of the quarterly magazine ‘The Moth’. He is also author of a number of books including the definitive histories of the DH.60 Moth and the DH.82 Tiger Moth as well as the story of the 1934 MacRobertson International Air Races from Mildenhall to Melbourne.

Hardback, 400 pages, lavishly illustrated throughout in colour and black and white with 1,000 photographs and artwork including period brochures and posters.

Air-Britain and DH Moth Club members £50.00 Non-members £75.00.

NOTE FOR DHMC members: Please select 'DHMC Member' below, add to Cart, then enter 'DHMC + (your membership number)' in the Member Number box when requested.