Today, I was fortunate enough to experience a flight in DH89 Dragon Rapide G-AGTM of Air Atlantique’s Classic Flight. The trip was bought for me as a birthday present and it was to be from Halfpenny Green. I should call it Wolverhampton Business Airport but can’t bring myself to do so. To me it will always be Ha’penny Green.
I arrived in plenty of time for my 14:45 flight and so had time to catch up with Will Jarman and Tom Everitt (both post here). They organise these events and they really are worth while. The choice today was between the Rapide and the Prentice. Being the opportunity for my first flight in a biplane, it just had to be the Rapide, pictured below.
I think this particular example looks superb in this scheme and the interior is also very opulent. It really takes you back to the 30’s and 40’s. Five of us boarded ‘TM for our trip and the engines were soon started. A short run to the runway, during which we passed two PA28’s, and we were rolling. The aircraft gathered speed quite quickly, the tailwheel coming unstuck before the mains left the ground.
A gentle climb to around 1000 feet and our tour of the Severn Valley began. It’s only from the air that you appreciate just how green England is, and just how many shades of green there are. Superb views of the Severn Valley were enjoyed by all on board. We overflew Bridgnorth on both the outward and return journey and although I know Bridgnorth a little, this was one view I had certainly never seen.
All too soon we were descending back into Halfpenny Green. I was lucky enough to get this picture simply by holding out the camera at arms length and literally hoping for the best.
After almost half an hour in the air we were down. I think the reaction of all on board proved just how enjoyable it had been. It really was a fantastic and unforgettable experience.
Above is our pilot for the trip, Jon Gowdy. I have to offer a huge thank you to all who made this possible and I certainly look forward to flying with the Classic Flight again. I’ve now sampled the Dakota and the Rapide so that leaves a few more for me to get through.
If anyone is interested, the Classic Flight are offering flights from Halfpenny Green again tomorrow. The aircraft in use will be the Rapide and at £55 I can confirm that it is excellent value for money. If anyone hasn’t tried it yet I’m sure, like me, you would find it a memorable experience. They will be offering flights from around 09:30.
I have more photo’s should anyone be interested.
Regards,
kev35
By: BlueRobin - 17th April 2006 at 11:19
How do I get to fly for the AACF? 😀
From Barry Clay: G-AIDL Rapide 6 c/n 6968 former Royal Navy TX310 civil registered in August 1946,some of the companies that have owned and operated her have been The Midland Metal Spinning Company Ltd,Fordhouses and later Halfpenny Green;Southern Joyrides Ltd,Biggin Hill;Snowdon Mountain Aviation Ltd,Caernarfon,when Air Atlantique took over the airfield at Caernarfon it also added the Rapde to its inventory,she has since been throughly overhauled and is part of a two ship flight with G-AGTM giving pleasure flights to thousands of people every year.
By: Will J - 17th April 2006 at 10:50
Hi Dave,
the membership cards will arrive with the first magazine, along with login details/instructions for the member’s section of www.classicflight.com.
By: DGH - 16th April 2006 at 20:55
Hello Will,
Indeed as you say Will G-AIDL started out as TX310 but saw no active service. Looking forward to the Dakota Promota, always a pleasure. Hope to catch up with the fleet soon. 🙂
P.S. Will, slightly of track but will we be getting membership cards this year? or has mine got lost? Not a problem just curious.
Dave
By: kev35 - 16th April 2006 at 19:53
A few more photographs from yesterday. The first three are of the Prentice. It’s a big aeroplane and I imagine it would be great for air to airs.
The others are just general views that I like. Two of them are of Bewdley. Are you in either of them Ross?
Hope you enjoyed them.
Regards,
kev35
By: Will J - 16th April 2006 at 18:55
Rapide vs. Dominie, I think that both of our Rapides were first built as Dominies, issed with millitary serials but never carried them ‘in anger’, spending time in storage before sale to civilian operators, I will check the details at work this week!
PS. DGH, we should be back for some more dates this yoear at Halfpenny Green, amongst other venues. Im just finishing off the first ‘Dakota Promota’ of the year (running a little late 😮 ), guess the cover star…..
By: DGH - 16th April 2006 at 17:32
Hello Kev,
I’m a payed up member of the AACF Club so I tend to keep an eye on the website for events I can attend but alas alot like the upcoming event at Kemble clash with work commitments. 🙁
G-AGTM was built for the Air Council as NF875 although she never saw service with the armed forces as she spent her time at 18MU before passing to Iraq Petrolum via Airwork. After spending quite a few years in the desert she passed to the Army Parachute Association before going to Russavia at Duxford. The aircraft was used for pleasure flying there until groundlooping on 21/06/87 and ending up in the car park! She was then restored over many years by Ben Borsberry before passing to Air Atlantique.
Hope this helps. 🙂
Dave
By: kev35 - 16th April 2006 at 15:58
TT.
I see what you mean about being smooth. It’s a delightful aircraft. The CAA’s database lists TM as a Dragon Rapide but there are indeed one or more circular escape routes through the roof. Being built in 1944 would she have been built as a Dominie anyway? Perhaps Will can tell us more.
DGH.
I believe AACF are hoping to do this on weekends when they are not committed to airshows, Will was talking yesterday about the fact that they are looking for venues Nationwide. I think it’s already on the website that they will be offering pleasure flights from Kemble on the 29th of this month. They are also offering flights to and from Kemble Air Day in June.
The website is www.classicflight.com
Regards,
kev35
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 16th April 2006 at 11:44
The thing i enjoyed best about the Dominie was how utterly SMOOTH she was – a very lovely aeroplane.
Fortunate to have about half a dozen trips in Romeo Papa in the good old days (G-AKRP) of ‘Northamptonshire Rose’ fame, Rex used to taxy past the Aviator, wave from the cockpit, we’d leave our beer, rush outside, buzz about for 20 mins and come back to finish our pints – which, if we were very lucky hadnt been swiped and were still cold….
Great days!
Is TM a Dominie or a Rapide? (Dom – circular escape hatch mid upper fuz, oftentimes ADF Loop? Rex used to get very picky about the correct description. Still he had spent 7 years building his own so I guess he earned the right)
TT
By: DGH - 16th April 2006 at 11:40
Nice pictures Kev, thanks for sharing. Hopefully they will do this again and I can get over subject to the usual time and money constraints.
By: Snapper - 15th April 2006 at 23:16
Cool! I’m going to take Eloise and Abigail up in Rapides at Duxford when they’re older.
That sounds like an absolute bargain – go on guys, get over to Halfpenny!
By: wessex boy - 15th April 2006 at 18:52
I took my daughter (then 3) up in ‘TM at the last Coventry Air show, there was a mix up with the timings and we were going to be disappointed, but The Lady from AA saw the look on my daughter’s face and convinced the pilot (on condition he had a fast car to get to the DC6 in time to start it for the display!) to do an extra flight, she then sold enough seats to fill it!
Great flight, lovely aircraft, fantastic outfit!
when my son is old enough, I will do one of their open days.
By: Rlangham - 15th April 2006 at 18:43
Nice pics Kev, the Dragon Rapide has to be the best looking de Havilland product ever made. I’m tempted to go for one of the Delta Aviation flights over Oxford in a Dragon Rapide (I think it’s G-AGTM) for my 18th
By: Ross_McNeill - 15th April 2006 at 18:37
Hi Kev,
Nice to know that you were onboard.
I was working on the Canberra and stopped to watch the Rapide doing a 180 degree turn over Bewdley.
Regards
Ross
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April 15, 2006 at 6:23 pm