De Havilland Australia
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAustralian aircraft manufacturer and aerospace subsidiary that built military and civilian aircraft, produced licensed designs, and later became a major aerostructures supplier.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
De Havilland Australia was the Australian subsidiary of the British de Havilland Aircraft Company and one of the country's most significant aircraft-production businesses. Established in Melbourne in March 1927, it was de Havilland's first overseas subsidiary. Its original responsibilities were commercial and service-oriented: selling de Havilland aircraft in Australia, assembling aircraft supplied from Britain, and providing maintenance, repairs, and spare parts. The company moved to Mascot aerodrome in Sydney in 1930 and later developed substantial manufacturing facilities at Bankstown. The company initially did not build complete aircraft, although de Havilland designs were assembled or manufactured under licence by other Australian organizations. During the late 1930s it began making propellers and locally assembled aircraft components. Its role expanded dramatically during the Second World War. De Havilland Australia assembled Tiger Moths for the Royal Australian Air Force and began licensed production of the type at Bankstown in 1940. More than one thousand Tiger Moths were ultimately produced. The company also built Dragon transports and Mosquito combat aircraft for Australian military service. In 1942 it designed the DHA-G1 glider, followed by the improved DHA-G2, its first indigenous aircraft designs. After the war, De Havilland Australia developed the DHA-3 Drover and manufactured Vampire jet aircraft under licence. It also undertook aircraft repair, overhaul, modification, and component production for the Australian military. Its activities included work on CAC aircraft, the RAAF's Caribou fleet, and the Australian production of the Aermacchi MB-326, commonly known as the Macchi. In 1959 the company became an Australian distributor for Beechcraft and established a marine division. When the parent company was absorbed into Hawker Siddeley, the Australian operation was renamed Hawker de Havilland in 1965. From the 1970s, the business increasingly shifted away from complete aircraft production toward aerospace subcontracting. It supplied structures and systems for civil airliners made by Boeing, Airbus, and McDonnell Douglas, while continuing military work such as refurbishment of Royal Australian Navy Grumman Trackers. The general-aviation business was separated as Hawker Pacific in 1980. Hawker de Havilland subsequently joined the Australian Aircraft Consortium with the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation and Government Aircraft Factories to develop the Wamira trainer, but the program was cancelled in 1985. The company returned to complete-aircraft assembly through licensed production of the Pilatus PC-9 for the RAAF and Sikorsky S-70A-9 Black Hawk helicopters for Australian military users. It also acquired the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in 1985. In 1992 Hawker de Havilland was delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange after its sale to BTR Nylex. Tenix acquired the company in 1998, and Boeing purchased it in 2000. Boeing merged it with the former Government Aircraft Factories, by then known as Aerospace Technologies of Australia, creating Hawker de Havilland Aerospace within Boeing Australia. The name changed to Boeing Aerostructures Australia in 2009. The De Havilland Australia brand is therefore defunct, although its manufacturing legacy continued through Boeing's Australian aerostructures operations.
History
De Havilland Australia was created in Melbourne in March 1927 as the first overseas subsidiary of the British de Havilland Aircraft Company. It was initially intended to commercialize de Havilland aircraft in Australia and provide assembly, repair, maintenance, and spare-parts support. The business moved to Mascot aerodrome in Sydney in 1930. Before the Second World War, it did not normally manufacture complete aircraft, although it produced propellers and supported local assembly programs. The war transformed the company's industrial role. In 1939 it assembled Tiger Moths and received an order for Moth Minors. Once the Royal Australian Air Force selected the Tiger Moth as its primary trainer, De Havilland Australia began licensed manufacture at a new Bankstown facility in 1940. Production exceeded one thousand aircraft. It also built 87 Dragon transports and 212 Mosquito aircraft for the RAAF. In response to a 1942 military requirement, the company designed the DHA-G1 transport glider. Its successor, the seven-seat DHA-G2, was produced in small numbers after the immediate strategic need for the aircraft had diminished. Postwar activity included development of the DHA-3 Drover and licensed production of Vampire jet aircraft. The company manufactured 190 DH.100 and DH.115 Vampires between 1946 and 1960, while also supporting military maintenance and modification programs. It repaired RAAF Caribous damaged during the Vietnam War and conducted major servicing of the fleet. It produced wings for the CAC CA-25 and supplied extensive structures and systems for the Australian-built Aermacchi MB-326. A proposed indigenous jet trainer, the P17, and participation in the GAF F2 program did not result in production. The parent company's absorption into Hawker Siddeley led to the Australian subsidiary being renamed Hawker de Havilland in 1965. During the 1970s the company increasingly focused on subcontract manufacturing for large civil-aircraft producers, including Boeing, Airbus, and McDonnell Douglas. It refurbished 16 Grumman S-2G Trackers for the Royal Australian Navy in 1976. In 1980 its general-aviation division became Hawker Pacific. In 1981 Hawker de Havilland joined the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation and Government Aircraft Factories in the Australian Aircraft Consortium to develop the Wamira trainer. The prototype was completed, but the program was cancelled in 1985 after delays, cost increases, and changing military requirements. The company acquired the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in 1985 and later integrated it as Hawker de Havilland Victoria. It returned to complete-aircraft manufacture with licensed PC-9/A production for the RAAF, delivering 65 aircraft through final assembly and local component manufacture. It also assembled 38 S-70A-9 Black Hawk helicopters between 1988 and 1991. Hawker de Havilland was sold to BTR Nylex in 1992 and delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange. Tenix acquired it in 1998, then sold it to Boeing in 2000. Boeing combined the operation with Aerospace Technologies of Australia to form Hawker de Havilland Aerospace. In 2009 the business was renamed Boeing Aerostructures Australia, marking the end of De Havilland Australia's identity as a standalone brand.
- 2009
Successor renamed Boeing Aerostructures Australia
[1]The Australian operation adopts a Boeing identity and continues as an aerostructures business.
- 2000
Acquired by Boeing
[1]Tenix sells the business to Boeing, which combines it with Aerospace Technologies of Australia.
- 1992
Delisted after sale to BTR Nylex
[1]The company leaves the Australian Securities Exchange following its acquisition by BTR Nylex.
- 1985
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation acquired
[1]Hawker de Havilland purchases CAC, later renaming it Hawker de Havilland Victoria.
- 1965
Renamed Hawker de Havilland
[1]Following de Havilland's absorption by Hawker Siddeley, the Australian company adopts the Hawker de Havilland name.
- 1949
First Australian-built Vampire flies
[1]The first locally produced DH.100/DH.115 Vampire flies at Bankstown.
- 1942
First indigenous design flies
[1]The DHA-G1 transport glider makes its first flight.
- 1940
Tiger Moth manufacture begins
[1]Licensed production begins at Bankstown for the RAAF training fleet.
- 1930
Move to Mascot
[1]The company relocates to Mascot aerodrome in Sydney.
- 1927
Australian subsidiary founded
[1]De Havilland establishes its first overseas subsidiary in Melbourne.
Products and positioning
A locally embedded Australian aircraft manufacturer that evolved from licensed production and military support into an aerospace structures and systems supplier serving defense and global commercial-aircraft programs.
Indigenous military gliders · 1942
DHA-G1 and DHA-G2
The DHA-G1 was De Havilland Australia's first indigenous aircraft design, developed in 1942 for a Royal Australian Air Force requirement for a small transport glider. It used the nose section of the Dragon then being built locally. The enlarged DHA-G2 followed in 1943 with a larger fuselage and wing and seating for seven. Only two G1 prototypes and six G2 aircraft were produced, as the strategic circumstances that had prompted the requirement changed.
Utility aircraft
DHA-3 Drover
The DHA-3 Drover was De Havilland Australia's principal postwar indigenous aircraft project. It was a locally developed utility transport intended for Australian operating conditions and formed part of the company's transition from wartime licensed manufacture toward domestic aircraft design. The type is associated with the company's postwar civil and general-aviation activity, although the company later concentrated more heavily on military support and aerospace component manufacturing.
Military trainer · 1940
de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth
The Tiger Moth became De Havilland Australia's most important wartime production program. After the RAAF selected it as its primary trainer, the company began licensed manufacture at Bankstown in 1940. More than one thousand aircraft were built, supporting Australian pilot training during the Second World War. Early Australian examples combined imported fuselages with locally produced wings before the program developed into full local manufacture.
Military combat aircraft · 1943
de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito
De Havilland Australia produced Mosquito aircraft under licence for the RAAF from 1943 to 1948. The program was part of the company's wartime expansion and gave Australian industry experience in the manufacture of a high-performance combat aircraft. A total of 212 Australian-built Mosquitos are associated with the program.
Jet fighter and trainer · 1946
de Havilland DH.100 and DH.115 Vampire
The Vampire program was De Havilland Australia's major postwar aircraft-manufacturing undertaking. The company built DH.100 and DH.115 variants for Australian military service from 1946 through 1960. The first Australian-built aircraft flew in June 1949 with chief test pilot Brian Walker. Production totaled 190 aircraft across the two variants and continued until the beginning of the company's later component-manufacturing era.
Military trainer · 1987
Pilatus PC-9/A
The PC-9/A was the last complete aircraft type produced by Hawker de Havilland. The company completed 65 aircraft for the RAAF, initially using kits supplied by Pilatus and later incorporating components produced by Hawker de Havilland Victoria and Aerospace Technologies of Australia. Australian production ran from 1987 to 1992 and restored complete-aircraft assembly after the cancellation of the Wamira program.
Military helicopter · 1988
Sikorsky S-70A-9 Black Hawk
Hawker de Havilland assembled 38 S-70A-9 Black Hawk helicopters for Australian military users between 1988 and 1991. The first Bankstown-assembled aircraft was delivered to the RAAF in May 1988. The helicopters were subsequently transferred to the Australian Army, with local deliveries continuing until January 1991.
Brand decisions
2000
Sell the business to BoeingM&ABackground
After ownership by BTR Nylex and Tenix, Hawker de Havilland was positioned as an aerospace manufacturing and structures business.
Action taken
Tenix sold Hawker de Havilland to Boeing, which merged it with Aerospace Technologies of Australia.
Aftermath
The merged operation became Hawker de Havilland Aerospace within Boeing Australia and later Boeing Aerostructures Australia.
1985
Acquire Commonwealth Aircraft CorporationStrategyBackground
Hawker de Havilland sought to consolidate Australian aerospace manufacturing while participating in defense programs such as Australian production of the F/A-18 Hornet.
Action taken
The company acquired CAC and subsequently renamed it Hawker de Havilland Victoria.
Aftermath
The combined capabilities supported component work for the F/A-18 and later helped supply locally manufactured components for the PC-9/A.
Sources1 sources
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