Classic DH Transport – whats left?

Hi Classic – just the Rapide I’m afraid as our AOC application is STILL with the CAA! However the Tiger will be on stand for all to view and make enquiries. We will be between the warbird and Freddie March enclosures, near the Spitfire Bar – please come and see us when you turn up.

FB

Wow Tom, good luck with that, I don’t know too much about these new laws – glad someone here (UK) is doing something to keep these old planes operating. I see you guys are doing Revival in a couple of weeks time – are you flying the Tiger there or just a Rapide? I’ll be there on the sunday and would like to fly in something weather permitting.

Classic

Anyone who operates an aircraft on an AOC would have been required to conform to EU-OPS and to give you some idea of the ludicrousy involved, whilst checking the requirements for putting our Tiger Moth onto one, we find we are required to fit cockpit lighting.

Cockpit lighting…………… in a day time only VFR OPEN COCKPIT aircraft……..!

I am hoping that someone in the Authority will see common sense when we reach the stage where that issue is tackled, but it shows what operators are up against.

I noted that both Air Atlantique’s Rapides now sport ghastly white strobe lights too, more victims of EU-OPS.

Tom.

In New Zealand we are relatively lucky, for a small country. A Fox Moth, a Dragon, a Dragonfly and three DH89 all active plus a few more (Puss Moth, Hornet Moth etc) on the active rebuild list.
We won’t mention the DH88 replica at Mandeville just in case!

I like the idea of the DH60 Moth production, much more crew-friendly than the draughty short-range Tiger Moth, and comes with a built-in heater!

Ah, de Havilland . . .

Yes Roger I agree, I understood that EU-OPS affected all public transprt aeroplanes in some way or another – of course the bigger aeroplanes would be to fair worse – however I think even the little aircraft would be affected too, even if it was to a minor effect.

Relatively in the UK, I think we have a fairly big pleasure flying interest/industry – after its warrented articles int he aviation mags as to where to find such organisations. I was wondering what sort of industry therwe was on the continent – what sort of types they operated, and what their countries were doing about it. Maybe a concerted effort from all operators across Europe could have a bit more clout for dispensations than individual people. Maybe a common type (like a Rapide?) could be pushed type by type throught the system!

Thoughts anyone

Classic

I would love to see an Albatross in the flesh/plywood. Now that’s what aeroplanes are meant to look like!

Does anything remain of any significance?

Here in Australia where the rebuilding of projects (ie old aeroplanes) is very active we are having similar problems. What projects are available? The answer is very few basket cases are available for a complete rebuild.

At the recent Festival of Flight at Watts Bridge a few of us were talking and we think new build of Gipsy Moths are the answer, all wood and very few, if any, metal castings. I was told the metal fittings were from flat metal and thus not too hard to fabricate.

What are others opinions and is there a market if some produced plans and a kit of the metal fittings?

Fortunately, DH designs are perhaps better represented than any other British company.

Of the prewar transports, there are a few Fox Moths, a few Dragons, quite a few Rapides and two Dragonflies still in the air. Postwar is not so well represented, although there are still a dozen or so Doves active, and one or two Herons.

They fall below the weight restrictions, so they dont come under the EU rules.

Bruce

I thought Rapides were to have some (minor) mods – ie anti-collision beacons.

Roger Smith.

Fortunately, DH designs are perhaps better represented than any other British company.

Of the prewar transports, there are a few Fox Moths, a few Dragons, quite a few Rapides and two Dragonflies still in the air. Postwar is not so well represented, although there are still a dozen or so Doves active, and one or two Herons.

They fall below the weight restrictions, so they dont come under the EU rules.

Bruce