De Havilland Dragon Rapide

The de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide is a 1930s short-haul biplane airliner developed and produced by British aircraft company de Havilland. Capable of accommodating 6–8 passengers, it proved an economical and durable craft with its strong lightweight plywood construction.

Developed during the early 1930s, the Dragon Rapide was essentially a smaller, twin-engined version of the four-engined DH.86 Express, and shared a number of common features, such as its tapered wings, streamlined fairings and Gipsy Six engines. First named the "Dragon Six", the type was marketed as "Dragon Rapide" and later simply known as the "Rapide". Upon its introduction in summer 1934, it proved to be a popular aircraft with airlines and private civil operators alike, attaining considerable foreign sales in addition to its domestic use.

Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, many of the civil Rapides were pressed into service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy. Referred to in military service by the name de Havilland Dominie, the type was employed for radio and navigation training, passenger transport and communications missions. British training aircraft had names with educational associations, and dominie is a Scots term for a school teacher.

Hundreds of Dominies were also constructed during the war. Other Rapides continued to be operated by British airlines throughout the war under the auspices of the Associated Airways Joint Committee (AAJC). Postwar, many military aircraft were returned to civilian service. Shortly after the end of the Second World War, de Havilland introduced a Dragon Rapide replacement, the de Havilland Dove.

Design and development

Origins

thumb|Flight deck

During summer 1933, the de Havilland aircraft company commenced work upon an aircraft to meet an Australian requirement, producing a four-engined faster passenger aircraft capable of seating ten passengers, the DH.86 Dragon Express.

During late 1933, a team at de Havilland, led by aircraft designer Arthur Ernest Hagg, began working on a new design, intended to be a faster and more comfortable successor to the earlier DH.84 Dragon. The new aircraft was, in effect, a twin-engined, scaled-down version of the four-engined DH.86 Express. Originally referred to as the "Dragon Six", the aircraft was first marketed as the "Dragon Rapide", although the type later came to be popularly referred to as simply the "Rapide".

In November 1936, in response to suggestions that the addition of flaps would aid in landing, a single Rapide was modified in order to explore their functionality.

Operational history

Prewar operations

thumb|Dragon Rapide of Isle of Man Air Services on a scheduled service at [[Manchester Airport|Manchester (Ringway) Airport in 1938]]

thumb|G-ADAH, built in 1935, and used by [[Hillmans Airways and Allied Airways until 1947. On display at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, England.]]

During July 1934, the first production Rapide, G-ACPM, performed the type's public debut at Hatfield with its entry into the 1934 King's Cup Race.

In the summer of 1934, the type entered service with UK-based airlines, with Hillman Airways Ltd being first to take delivery in July.

The Anglo-Persian Oil Company was another early company to purchase the Rapide; used for quick communications purposes between individual oil fields spread out over vast distances, the aircraft quickly became popular in the oil industry, with the Iraq Petroleum Company and the Asiatic Petroleum Company also procuring their own Rapides. Isle of Man Air Services operated a fleet of Rapides on scheduled services from Ronaldsway Airport near Castletown to airports in north-west England including Blackpool, Liverpool and Manchester. Some of its aircraft had been transferred to it after operation by Railway Air Services.

During late 1935, the first of an initial batch of 16 Rapides were shipped to the manufacturer's Canadian branch, de Havilland Canada, for modification and re-sale purposes.

On 30 January 1942, the majority of major Canadian operators were amalgamated into Canadian Pacific Air Lines, who continued to use the type. Further Canadian sales of the Rapide would occur both during and after the end of the Second World War.

During 1938, British operator Airwork Limited placed an initial order for nine Rapides to serve as navigation trainers. The aircraft involved has since been placed on public display in the Museo del Aire, Madrid, Spain.

Second World War

thumb|left|A Dominie of the [[Air Transport Auxiliary at Hatfield Aerodrome, August 1942]]

At the start of the Second World War on 3 September 1939, all British civil transport aircraft were requisitioned by the Ministry of Aircraft Production. A number of Dragon Rapides were used to provide internal flights under the control of National Air Communications (NAC). The AAJC co-ordinated the majority of UK's wartime scheduled services, which were entirely operated on over-water routes. Other Dragon Rapides were pressed into service with the British armed forces as communications aircraft and training aircraft; Australian Rapides were also requisitioned by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). During the war, Dominie production was performed by de Havilland and Brush Coachworks Ltd, the latter being responsible for the greater proportion of the work. The Dominies were mainly used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy for radio and navigation training. Other duties they were used for included passenger and communications missions. Third party companies performed conversion schemes, including Field Aircraft Services, Airwork Limited, Air Enterprises, W.A. Rollason Limited and the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation (LAC). By 1958, 81 examples were recorded as still flying on the British register.

In the Netherlands, airline KLM, keen to restart operations, set about procuring a handful of Rapides prior to the end of the war, commencing the first of its re-launched services during September 1945. Due to the declining stocks of spares, Rapides were broken up to scavenge parts to maintain other active aircraft. Demand for such an aircraft was still relatively strong, according to Moss.

The DH.89 proved an economical and durable aircraft, despite its relatively primitive plywood construction and many were still flying in the early 2000s. Several Dragon Rapides are operational in the UK, while operators including Classic Wings and Plane Heritage, offer pleasure flights in them to the general public. Shortly after the end of the Second World War, de Havilland introduced a Dragon Rapide replacement, the de Havilland Dove.

Variants

thumb|Dragon Rapide G-AIYR at [[Shuttleworth Collection|Old Warden airfield ]]

thumb|Dragon Rapide in flying condition, at [[Imperial War Museum Duxford|Duxford aerodrome]]

;D.H.89: Twin-engined light transport biplane. First production version.

;D.H.89A: Improved version, fitted with a landing light in the nose, modified wing tips and cabin heating.

;D.H.89A Series 4: D.H.89A aircraft converted to two de Havilland Gipsy Queen 2 piston engines, fitted with constant speed propellers.

;D.H.89A Mk 5: One D.H.89A aircraft, powered by two de Havilland Gipsy Queen 3 piston engines.

;D.H.89A Mk 6: One D.H.89A aircraft fitted with Fairey X5 fixed-pitch propellers.

;D.H.89M : Military transport version. Exported to Lithuania and Spain.

;D.H.89B Dominie Mk I: Radio and navigation training version.

;D.H.89B Dominie Mk II: Communications and transport version.

Operators

thumb|1944 de Havilland DH89a Dragon Rapide 6

Civil

;

Zonas Oeste y Norte de Aerolíneas Argentinas (Z.O.N.D.A.)

;

Adelaide Airways

;

KNILM

;

Misr Airlines

;

Aero Oy operated two aircraft.

;

Air France

;

Société Aigle Azur Indochine
Cie de Transports Aérien Autrex
Compagnie Laotienne de Commerce et de Transport

;

Air Iceland

;

Air India
Indian National Airways

;

Iranian State Airlines

;

Iraqi Airways
Wilson Airways

;

Valsts Gaisa satiksme - 2

;

Middle East Airlines

;

Air Travel (NZ) Ltd
Mount Cook Airline
National Airways Corporation
Cook Strait Airways Ltd
Union Airways of New Zealand

;

LARES

;

Comair (South Africa) operated 2 aircraft.

;

Spanish Republican Air Force

;

Iberia

;

Swissair

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Aberdeen Airways
Air Atlantique Classic Flight now the Classic Air Force
Airviews Ltd
Air Enterprises
British Westpoint
Classic Wings
Crilly Airways Ltd
East Anglian Flying Services
Great Western and Southern Airlines
Hillmans Airways
Highland Airways Limited
Island Air Services
Isle of Man Air Services
Lancashire Aircraft Corporation
Personal Airways
Railway Air Services
Scillonia Airways
Scottish Airways

;

Lithuanian Air Force operated two D.H.89M aircraft.

;

Royal Netherlands Air Force – four D.H.89B Mark II (transports)
No. 334 Squadron RNLAF (1944–1956)

;

Royal New Zealand Air Force
No. 4 Squadron RNZAF
No. 42 Squadron RNZAF

;

Peruvian Air Force

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Portuguese Air Force

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Southern Rhodesian Air Force – Four aircraft.

;

South African Air Force

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Soviet Air Force used at least two DH.89, captured from Lithuanian Air Force during the occupation of the Baltics

;

Spanish Republican Air Force operated three D.H.89M requisitioned from LAPE

;

Spanish Air Force

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Turkish Air Force - three DH.89As.

;

Royal Air Force
No. 24 Squadron RAF
No. 173 Squadron RAF
701 Naval Air Squadron
21 August 1937, CF-BBG Registered 10.6.37 to The Globe and Mail Ltd, Toronto. Named "The Flying Newsroom" and equipped with floats. Destroyed by fire whilst refuelling Toronto Air Harbour, Toronto, Ontario 21.8.37. Registration cancelled 21.8.37 (same day)
3 July 1938, G-AEBX Star of Scotia of Railway Air Services crashed at Sydenham, Northern Ireland, two killed. John Crouch who was the king's jockey, the pilot and the wireless operator were all killed.
27 May 1941, R5929 a Dominie of the Royal Air Force near Devizes, Wiltshire, England, seven killed.
6 February 1945, SU-ABP of Misr Airwork crashed in Egypt, seven killed. six killed. eight killed.
30 August 1953, VP-RCP, registered to the Northern Rhodesian Government, Department of Civil Aviation (Lusaka), crash-landed near the Munyamadzi River, at a village named Lambwe in Chief Nawalya’s area, Mpika District (then Northern Rhodesia), close to the Rhodesia/Nyasaland border and roughly 100 miles from Lundazi. Four occupants were injured (including fractures to the pilot); all reached Lundazi Boma by 2 September 1953 after a bush rescue.
19 February 1954, G-AFMF crashed at Simonburn Common near Hexham, Northumberland. The pilot and seven passengers escaped with minor injuries.
29 June 1957, G-AGUE of Island Air Services crashed on takeoff from Ramsgate Airport, Kent on a local pleasure flight. The aircraft was written off, but all on board escaped uninjured.
16 July 1960, OY-DZY of Zonens Redningskorps crashed shortly after takeoff from Copenhagen Airport, Denmark. The aircraft was chartered by the Danish Football Union to transport soccer players to a test match in Jutland. All eight passengers were killed; the pilot survived but had one leg amputated.
11 August 2018, N683DH crashed shortly after takeoff from Abbotsford International Airport at the Abbotsford International Airshow.

Surviving aircraft

thumb|Dragon Rapide G-AGSH at [[Shuttleworth Collection|Old Warden airfield]]

thumb|Dragon Rapide G-AHAG at [[Duxford Aerodrome]]

F-AZCA is preserved in France (Amicale Jean Baptiste Salis at La Ferté Alais) Used for a double transatlantic flight in the late 1980s as an advertising vehicle for Blueway cigarettes. It is scheduled for restoration.
G-ACPP, on display at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum Fame in Wetaskiwin Alberta. The fifth D.H.89 built, and started its career with Railway Air Services Ltd of Croydon, UK on 2 Feb. 1935 with the name 'City of Bristol'. It is the oldest surviving D.H.89.
G-ACYR, in Olley Air Service Livery, used to fly Franco from the Canary Islands in the first days of the Spanish Civil War, based at Museo del Aire (Madrid).
G-ADAH, a DH89A in the livery of Allied Airways, is on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, England.
G-ADDD (was G-ACZE, N1934D), a DH89A currently undergoing restoration to flying condition at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
G-AEML / EC-AAY, a DH89A in the livery of Iberia, is airworthy and operated by the Fundación Infante de Orleans in Spain.
G-AGJG, a DH89A, in the colours of Scottish Airways, is airworthy and in the hands of private owners at Duxford Airfield, Cambridge, England.
G-AGSH, a DH89A, is airworthy with the Shuttleworth Collection in Old Warden, Bedfordshire. Was rebuilt and restored to her BEA colours by Cliff Lovell at Hants Light Plane Services.
G-AGTM, a DH89A, is airworthy and was operated by the Classic Air Force before it closed in 2016.
G-AHAG, a DH89A in the livery of Scillonia Airways, is airworthy and based at Membury airfield, Berkshire.
G-AHXW, is under repair following its 2018 crash. Upon completion of will rejoin the Historic Flight Foundation Spokane, Washington.
G-AIDL, a Mk 6, is airworthy and owned by Cirrus Aviation, painted as a Royal Air Force Dominie TX310, its former identity.
G-AKIF and G-AIYR, a pair of DH89A Dragon Rapides, are airworthy and based at Duxford, England airfield for tourist flights.
G-AKNV (last registration was OO-CNP), on display at the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels.
6662 / N663HG, a DH89B, is airworthy and based at Hillsboro, Oregon.
NR695 / N2290F, a DH89A, is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio.
TC-ERK, a DH89A, is on display at the Istanbul Aviation Museum.
TF-ISM, a D.H.89A that was one of 3 in service in Iceland. 2 of which were in service with Icelandair
ZS-JGV NR743(CN6831), a DH89A is airworthy and is based in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
C-FAYE, known as Lady Faye, is on display at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
V-3, DH89B (CN6740), on display at the Nationaal Militair Museum, The Netherlands
2304, DH89A (CN6430), operated by Força Aérea Portuguesa on display at the Museu do Ar, Sintra Portugal
VQ-PAR / 002 / CN6952, a DH89A on display at the Israeli Air Force Museum, Israel, Hatzerim Airbase

Specifications (Dragon Rapide)

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Notable appearances in media

A 1986 Spanish film, Dragon Rapide, covers its historical use by Generalissimo Francisco Franco during the preparation for the Spanish Civil War.

References

Notes

Bibliography

Gerdessen, Frederik. "Estonian Air Power 1918 – 1945". Air Enthusiast, No. 18, April – July 1982. pp. 61–76. .

External links

Operators' reference drawing [https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1964/1964%20-%202920.PDF], [https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1964/1964%20-%202938.PDF]
de Havilland Dragon Rapide at the Military Aviation Museum