Here are some pictures of the fabulous de Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide.
Dates and location unknown except where captioned, any additions welcome.
Photos by the late Gerald Lawrance, digitised and made available by Tony Clarke.
Lots more de Havillands at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwhitworth/sets/72157626917257590/detail/
G-ACPP at White Waltham in 1958. This aircraft started service with Railway Air Services in 1935, and saw wartime use with Scottish Airways. It went to Canada in 1961 and is preserved in Alberta as CF-PTK with the Reynolds Museum:
G-AGJG seen at Seething, date unknown. Another Scottish Airways aircraft, it is well known for the pleasure flying performed from Heathrow. Later in use for parachuting, it was Wfu by 1974. Arriving Duxford 24-8-75, it is now very active in its wartime colours:
G-AGUV of BEA at Gatwick 19-7-51. When Gatwick was full of Spitfires. W/O 27-4-54 in Bahrein with Airwork:
G-AHAG probably at Wisley (EDIT: Wisley 15-7-56). Titles look like ‘Blackburn’, indicating use by Hawker around 1963. Believed on rebuild at Membury:
G-AHJS of 3 Counties Aeroplane Club (In service 1965-1966). Wfu at Blackbushe 1966:
G-AHKB of the Hampshire Aeroplane Club at Kidlington in 1960. To F-BEKB in 1961 and Wfu by 1965:
G-AHKU of Dominie Airways 1966-1967 (a pleasure flight operation). Wfu by 1970:
G-AHPT of Island Air Charters at Gatwick 19-7-51. (Saw wartime service with ATA and RAE). W/O St Albans 7-7-59:
G-AHXW at Wisley 1956-1957 (EDIT: Wisley 15-7-56), probably when with Fairey Aviation. Became N683DH in 1971, and airworthy in California in original colours as ‘G-AHXW’:
G-AJKW of Westair at Kidlington in 1960 (A bit more tolerant of spotters in those days). W/O Halfpenny Green 7-5-67.
G-AJSL was Wfu after an accident at Usworth 23-2-69 and stored until export to Australia in 1982. Became VH-UXZ in 1995 and on rebuild at Moorabbin:
G-AKNN probably while serving with Marshalls at Cambridge. Wfu by 1969:
G-AKNY became F-OBRX in 1960, later 6V-AAC for parachuting duties in Senegal. Believed returned to France, but Wfu by 1971:
G-AKOE was Wfu by 1965 but remains were reported in storage at Chirk in 2009:
G-AKPA at Kidlington in 1959. Became EI-AML in 1962, then F-BLHZ. To USA in 1973 as N89DH, this was recently rebuilt in New Zealand. Now flying in USA as ‘G-ADDD’:
G-AKRN at Shoreham 24-5-60. Wfu later that year, remains were also reported at Chirk:
G-ALGC (Wfu by 1966) (EDIT:Biggin Hill May 1964)
G-ALPK was Wfu at Blackbushe by 1966 (EDIT: At Blackbushe):
G-AMJK at Kidlington 1960. To F-OBVL in 1961, Wfu by 1965:
G-APSD was only civilianised in 1959, and Wfu by 1964. Reported as burnt at Shoreham 4-5-66:
With thanks to the Gatwick Aviation Society publication ‘de Havilland Biplane Transports’ by Paul Hayes & Bernard King. Highly recommended.
By: Banupa - 9th July 2011 at 14:04
Here’s a couple more taken at Woburn.
By: Banupa - 9th July 2011 at 12:44
Here’s a bit more info on G-ACYR. According to Leslie Hunt’s Veteran & Vintage Aircraft 4th Edition of 1974, he states: G-ACYR c/n 6261 was charted from Olley Air Services to fly Franco from Morocco to Spain pre-war. It was dismantled at Desford post-war and thought sold to General Franco 1954 for the museum.
Assuming that is true, then it is the original.
By: Banupa - 9th July 2011 at 11:32
I’m pretty certain it is the original G-ACYR, unless someone knows otherwise? I seem to recall seeing something at Croydon in 1959 in Olley Air Services colours to, but alas the memory is dimming!
By: DragonRapide - 9th July 2011 at 11:12
Hey, that’s nice…..
It is really ‘CYR or a younger aircraft representing?
Love the fact that it is an Olley Air Services colourscheme – some of the best stories I have heard about early days of scheduled passenger flying seem to involve that remarkable gent!
By: Banupa - 9th July 2011 at 10:57
Almost forgot this one! Museo del Aire, Cuatros Vientos, Madrid C1996.
By: l.garey - 8th July 2011 at 17:09
Lovely photos, as always.
For the record:
G-AIUL of Derby Aviation at Wymeswold 30/5/1955
By: Banupa - 8th July 2011 at 15:49
Here’s a few Rapide pics. Some were scanned from rather bad prints.
By: barry flahey - 7th July 2011 at 16:23
Lovely photo’s as usual. G-AKIF is recently included in the marvellous BBC series “Britain from above” though in a dark blue colour scheme. Some nice air to air over Oxford. Other a/c in this excellent series too, including Typhoon.
By: D1566 - 7th July 2011 at 11:39
Chirk
I happened to be at the car boot sale at Chirk last Sunday and managed a couple of quick phone cam pics in the hangar – apologies for quality …
By: RPSmith - 22nd June 2011 at 22:19
While I was researching these Rapide pictures, I realised the significance of one particular airframe. G-ACPP is now preserved in Canada, and is the oldest survivor, being the fifth built……This makes it a very historic aircraft indeed, there are very few pre-war British airliners remaining (Only the Spartan Cruiser at East Fortune comes to mind). Perhaps we should start a campaign to repatriate it….
Don’t forget TAC’s Rapide, G-ADAH at MoSI, Manchester. One or two Short Scions about?
I agree any pre 1939 British airliner is a rare beastie
Roger Smith
By: richw_82 - 22nd June 2011 at 22:17
Marvellous stuff! G-AIDL was looking very smartly turned out on Saturday, its great to hear she’s flown.
Rich
By: RPSmith - 22nd June 2011 at 22:03
DCW “G-AIDL still flying with Air Atlantique as TX310”
I saw a Rapide flying in the Baginton area yesterday – it turned out to be ‘IDL on her first post-restoration flight after many months work by the Classic Flight engineers.
G-AKRP next 🙂
Roger Smith
By: Arabella-Cox - 22nd June 2011 at 18:08
The picture of G-AGJG at the very top of threads is KIDLINGTON -seething never that busy in 1960!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By: dh83 - 22nd June 2011 at 17:35
“Electromag-Neil” was G-AEML now registered EC-AAY
dh83
Rapides seem to be popular, so here’s a few more:
G-AGJG again, no details:
G-AHLF (Wfu by 1962) Location anyone?
G-AIDL still flying with Air Atlantique as TX310:
G-AKIF still flying with Classic Wings at Duxford. Bardock Aviation Services titles date this to 1963-1966:
Unkown Rapide with ‘Electromag-Neil’ titles:
By: dh83 - 22nd June 2011 at 17:33
“Electromag-Neil” was G-AEML now registered EC-AAY
hd83
Rapides seem to be popular, so here’s a few more:
G-AGJG again, no details:
G-AHLF (Wfu by 1962) Location anyone?
G-AIDL still flying with Air Atlantique as TX310:
G-AKIF still flying with Classic Wings at Duxford. Bardock Aviation Services titles date this to 1963-1966:
Unkown Rapide with ‘Electromag-Neil’ titles:
By: G-ASEA - 22nd June 2011 at 17:21
Did you get a first flight certificate? We gave them out if you asked.
G-AGTM was use in a film around 1984? About the England to Austraila air race. The DC2 came over and a Puss moth was used. I never saw it.
Dave
By: Wyvernfan - 22nd June 2011 at 17:10
Indeed they were. Made a point of sitting right at the front to the right so i could see the pilot. Then watched nervously as fuel came out the top of the primer or whatever it was as he pumped away.
Still got my ticket somewhere with the exact date on. Might even have your initials on :).
By: DragonRapide - 22nd June 2011 at 15:07
And my first ever flight was from Duxford in TM in 1985.
I might have briefed and boarded you – was doing so from 1984 to 87, as was G-ASEA.
Glorious days…..
DR
By: Sky High - 22nd June 2011 at 11:35
Electromag-Neil was based in Bristol until it was dissolved 2 years ago. This snippet from some googling:
“By WWII when MH Gamble (who had served his apprenticeship with a German Piano Company) joined the family firm the company had been diverted by the Government into producing Aircraft parts at their 3 factories. After the war MH Gamble went into partnership with the Neil Tool Company to form Electromag-Neil Ltd. Some of the aircraft that the firm produced parts for included the Spitfire, De Havilland, Nimrod & of course Concorde. By 1963 L. R. Neil had sold his share of the company to MH Gamble &, today the company is called ENL Ltd & still has a Gamble at the helm.”
ENL is now in Portsmouth.
By: John Aeroclub - 22nd June 2011 at 11:21
Do any parts of ALPK survive?
John
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June 20, 2011 at 8:40 pm
