de Havilland Leopard Moth
Enable an agent to recognise the de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth aircraft type, assess evidence about an example's configuration and condition, and identify prerequisites for preservation, maintenance or operation.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
6 bundles · 11 layers · 17 findings · 27 questions
DH.85 identity Establish whether the subject belongs to the Leopard Moth type and how confidently that attribution is supported.
Documentary attribution
Connect the registered type to evidence identifying a particular example.
Type and airframe evidence
Require agreement between the DH.85 designation, construction identity and supporting records.
- Which plate, construction record or authoritative aircraft record identifies this example as a DH.85? provenance
- Do conflicting identities or major reconstruction leave its attribution uncertain? boundary
Physical recognition
Use a combination of cabin, wing and fuselage evidence to distinguish the type.
Leopard versus Puss Moth
Test the wooden box fuselage and characteristic wing geometry alongside the three-seat cabin layout.
- Which visible or documented features distinguish this aircraft from a DH.80A Puss Moth? definition
- Which recognition features have been obscured or altered during restoration? provenance
Wooden airframe and preservation Assess the construction, condition and repair evidence of the Leopard Moth airframe.
Structural condition
Locate evidence about load-bearing wood, joints, covering and attached fittings.
Wood and joint integrity
Record inspection coverage and unresolved defects without treating an intact finish as proof of soundness.
- What inspection evidence addresses moisture damage, cracking and bond deterioration in the fuselage and wings? measurement
- Which structural areas remain inaccessible or insufficiently assessed? boundary
Restoration conformity
Connect replacement materials and repairs to applicable DH.85 engineering information.
Repair design basis
Trace repairs to appropriate drawings and schemes; DHSL identifies itself as custodian of surviving DH.85 design and repair data. [DHSL Moths](https://www.dhsupport.com/moth.php)
- Which DH.85 drawing or accepted repair scheme supports each major structural replacement? provenance
- Which material substitutions or undocumented repairs require specialist disposition? action
Propulsion and controls Resolve the installed powerplant, supporting systems and control configuration.
Installed powerplant
Identify the engine and propeller as an approved installation rather than by family resemblance.
Engine and propeller conformity
The contemporary description specifies Gipsy Major engines; establish the actual installation separately. [NACA Aircraft Circular 186](https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark%3A/67531/metadc279636/m2/1/high_res_d/19930090495.pdf)
- What engine mark and propeller are installed, and which records establish their compatibility with this DH.85? provenance
- Which power, speed and service limits apply to that exact installation? measurement
System and control state
Resolve fuel, lubrication, starting equipment and flight-control condition using aircraft-specific evidence.
Configuration before operation
Establish installed controls and service provisions before selecting procedures or consumables.
- Which fuel and oil specifications, capacities and system modifications are documented for this example? provenance
- What inspection or functional-check evidence establishes correct control travel, security and system readiness? action
Touring and ground envelope Determine the evidence needed to assess loading, flight suitability and movement on the ground.
Loading and performance
Associate proposed occupancy and fuel with current mass properties and applicable performance information.
Three-seat load assessment
Treat seating capacity, payload and usable fuel as distinct constraints.
- Does the proposed combination of occupants, baggage and fuel satisfy the documented mass and centre-of-gravity envelope? measurement
- Which performance evidence applies to this engine, propeller, aircraft configuration and proposed operating conditions? provenance
Ground and storage fit
Establish dimensions, undercarriage configuration and supported handling methods.
Movement and hangar constraints
Resolve clearances and handling provisions from the actual aircraft and applicable instructions.
- What measured dimensions and undercarriage or braking configuration govern towing, taxiing and hangar access? measurement
- Which instructions establish permitted handling points and any wing-folding or disassembly provisions? action
Continued airworthiness and permitted activity Connect DH.85 technical evidence and aircraft condition to the prerequisites for a specified activity.
Applicable technical record
Determine which maintenance documents and notices actually apply to the DH.85 configuration.
Moth notice applicability
DHSL states that information for minority Moth types can occur in the Tiger Moth TNS volume and must be read with the appropriate type manual. [DHSL Moths](https://www.dhsupport.com/moth.php)
- Which maintenance-manual revision and Moth Technical News Sheets apply to this DH.85? provenance
- Which applicable inspections, modifications or life limits remain overdue or unsupported by records? action
Activity eligibility
Evaluate documentary and physical prerequisites for display, ground running or flight.
Evidence for proposed use
Keep preservation status, maintenance release and jurisdiction-specific authorisation distinct.
- Which current certificate, permit or other authority covers the proposed activity for this aircraft and jurisdiction? provenance
- What unresolved defect, document gap or operating restriction prevents that activity from being supported? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Check these first
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these check these first hold for the sense of de Havilland Leopard Moth this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of de Havilland Leopard Moth this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of de Havilland Leopard Moth this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of de Havilland Leopard Moth this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of de Havilland Leopard Moth this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of de Havilland Leopard Moth this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Recalled without web access and unsourced; every item is a lead to verify.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of de Havilland Leopard Moth this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Physical world and living systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- PHY
- Domain
- PHY.OBJ
What it is Filled
The de Havilland Leopard Moth (D.H.85) is a British three-seat, single-engine, high-wing cabin monoplane introduced in 1933 for private and touring aviation, with predominantly wooden construction and fixed conventional landing gear.
In scope
- DH.85 identity and differentiation from other de Havilland Moth aircraft
- Three-seat cabin arrangement and characteristic airframe construction
- Installed propulsion, controls and configuration departures
- Configuration-dependent loading, performance and ground-handling constraints
- Structural preservation, repair provenance and continuing-airworthiness evidence
Out of scope
- General aerodynamic principles shared by powered aeroplanes
- Complete engineering models of Gipsy engines and propellers
- Ownership, registration histories and maintenance logs as independent aircraft records
- Pilot licensing, aerodrome management and airspace rules as standalone models
- Other Moth aircraft types and the biological leopard moth
Why it exists Filled
Enable an agent to recognise the de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth aircraft type, assess evidence about an example's configuration and condition, and identify prerequisites for preservation, maintenance or operation.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Confirm the DH.85 designation through identification records; a Moth name or painted registration alone is insufficient.
- Check for the three-seat high-wing cabin-monoplane configuration described in [NACA Aircraft Circular 186](https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark%3A/67531/metadc279636/m2/1/high_res_d/19930090495.pdf).
- Examine fuselage construction: the wooden box structure is a key distinction from the similar DH.80A Puss Moth. [DH Moth Club](https://www.dhmothclub.co.uk/representative-aircraft-types/dh85-leopard-moth/)
- Compare wing geometry with the Puss Moth: marked taper and sweep are documented Leopard Moth recognition features. [NACA Aircraft Circular 186](https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark%3A/67531/metadc279636/m2/1/high_res_d/19930090495.pdf)
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Clear a vintage aircraft to fly without a valid airworthiness review.
- Alter or fabricate maintenance or log book entries.
- Swing a propeller or run an engine without a qualified person in control.
Only with a human decision
- Any decision to fly or restore a vintage aircraft.
May
- Describe the type's design and its role in interwar private flying.
- Track maintenance and airworthiness records for the owner of a flying example.
Moral aspects Filled
- Flying vintage aircraft keeps heritage alive but must not trade safety for authenticity.
Who is affected
- Pilots and passengers
- Spectators
- Owners and restorers
Owners Filled
Steward
The registered owner of each example; the civil aviation authority keeps registration records.
Master systems
- National civil aircraft registers
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q11436 - registry parent class
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.de-havilland-leopard-moth
- Wikidata: Q825165 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q825165)
Direct properties required Filled
- Type identity: de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth; verified, provisional or disputed attribution
- Cabin accommodation: Three-seat baseline; record installed seating, restraints and approved occupancy separately
- Airframe construction conformity: Documented baseline, approved repair, approved modification, undocumented departure or unknown
- Engine and propeller installation: Installed engine mark and serial, propeller designation, installation approval and applicable limits
- Aircraft dimensions: Wing span, length and height in m; configuration and documentary source required
- Loading envelope: Mass in kg; centre of gravity in mm from a stated datum; approved limits and weighing date
- Fuel and lubricant provision: Capacity and usable quantity in L; approved grades linked to the installed engine and fuel system
- Wood and covering condition: Inspection findings for moisture damage, bond integrity, cracking, covering deterioration and inaccessible areas
- Operational eligibility: Display only, restoration, ground activity authorised, flight authorised, restricted or unverified; authority and date required
Recognition required Filled
- A high-wing cabin monoplane with a single nose-mounted inline engine.
- Fixed tailwheel undercarriage and wooden construction with a side-by-side and rear seating cabin.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- Classify a candidate aircraft against DH.85 documentary and physical recognition evidence.
- Compare an example's installed configuration with an evidenced Leopard Moth baseline.
- Identify missing loading, inspection or approval evidence before proposing operation.
- Prepare a specialist inspection or restoration brief for its wooden airframe and installed equipment.
- Assess hangar, display or transport compatibility using verified dimensions and handling instructions.
- Trace DH.85 maintenance requirements to applicable manuals, technical notices and aircraft records.
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Wood and glue deterioration in old airframes.
- Hand propeller starting can cause serious injury.
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- Annex 7 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization, establishes nationality and registration marking standards implemented through national rules.
- Annex 8 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization, provides the international airworthiness framework, with the operating eligibility of a historic example determined by its national certification regime.
Context of use required Filled
- This historic three-seat cabin aircraft was developed for private flying and touring.
- Surviving examples are encountered in aviation collections, restoration projects and heritage flying, where individual maintenance and configuration records matter.
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q825165: de Havilland Leopard Moth - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: De Havilland Leopard Moth - general description of the item
Open questions
- Which authoritative DH.85 manuals and drawings establish baseline dimensions, masses, fuel capacities and operating limits, and how do these vary across production examples?
- Which engine, propeller, brake, starter and electrical modifications are documented as accepted for particular Leopard Moth examples?
- What exact wing-folding or disassembly arrangements and securing inspections apply to the DH.85?
- Which DH.85-specific structural deterioration patterns and inspection requirements are established by technical notices or service evidence?
- Which certification basis and continuing-airworthiness requirements apply in each intended jurisdiction, including restrictions affecting passenger carriage or other proposed uses?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q825165/spec.json