[1] After World War I there were many surplus Airco DH.9 light bombers, designed by Geoffrey de Havilland, available for the emerging air transport business.

Most of these later four-seat aircraft had slight sweepback to counter the rearward shift in the centre of gravity.

[1][2] The DH.9, DH.9B, and DH.9C were dimensionally similar, with the same wingspan and height and only small variations in length depending on the powerplant.

They were two-bay tractor biplanes, with fixed two-wheel main and tail-skid undercarriage.

The last in service was operated by Northern Air Lines in Barton, Greater Manchester, until 1932.