This aircraft, previously VH-DHX was built in 1943 and so I wonder why it has an out of sequence registration which should have been issued in the late ’20s?:confused:
Others questions I would like answers to are, where is it based and presumably it was renovated in Australia before returning to the U.K?
By: mark_pilkington - 30th June 2009 at 01:51
What happened to the DH Dragon fuselage re/built by Mothcair (Chalinor Bros – Murwillumbah, Australia) and exported to the UK?
Has the aeroplane been completed and in flying condition?
Ross,
Yes it has, – This is it! VH-AQU /DCX = G-ECAN
The fuselage is the re-built example by MothCair
Regards
Mark Pilkington
By: Proctor VH-AHY - 29th June 2009 at 22:42
Gooday All
What happened to the DH Dragon fuselage re/built by Mothcair (Chalinor Bros – Murwillumbah, Australia) and exported to the UK?
Has the aeroplane been completed and in flying condition?
cheers
By: Rlangham - 29th June 2009 at 22:27
Thanks for the photos John, she looks gorgeous in that livery
By: John Aeroclub - 29th June 2009 at 22:15
By: garryrussell - 29th June 2009 at 16:18
G-ECAN is not a 1920’s registration but an advanced out of sequence issue of the current register.
The original G-E did as mentioned finish at G-EBZZ but there was an out of sequece mark issued twice, G-EDCA for the Director of Civil Aviation. After G-EBTQ the letter ‘Q’ was no longer used so anything with a ‘Q’ could not be mimicked.
Some of the original G-E registrations have already be issued as current out of sequence for example the Short 330 G-EASI wearing marks used by the famous Vimmy Commercial so that seem to show the current register is treated differently so I guess any recent addition of a 20’s aeroplane could have the G-E reg of the original providing it has not already been issued on the current register and does not have a ‘Q’
But in this case the type was far to late. G-ACAN,G-BCAN,G-DCAN had already been issued…not G-CCAN though (at that time) so I suppose they just thought it the most suitable for their needs.
Garry
By: Newforest - 29th June 2009 at 15:37
See, that didn’t hurt did it!:) Thanks for all the information on this thread, someone somewhere always knows the answer to a question.;)
By: The Blue Max - 29th June 2009 at 09:34
She is based at Rendcomb with the rest of the owners fleet. The work in the UK was done by Cliff Lovel.
By: JDK - 29th June 2009 at 06:17
G-ECAN is an De Havilland Australia built machine c/n 2048. It was built for the RAAF as A34-59, converted to civilian standard as VH-AQU , Later VH-DCX.
DH Australia built the obsolete Dragon during W.W.II rather than the better Rapide because they had the engines for Dragons available from the Tiger Moth production – not Dragon engines, creating a bit of an anomaly.
When it was imported into the UK it was given a period registation. It was in Australia in the Marshall Airways collection at Banksdown Airport.
That would be Bankstown, just for accuracy.
You could say it was built out of period and now wears a more appropriate registration to the design rather than construction era.
Cheers,
By: Arm Waver - 29th June 2009 at 06:04
I was always under the impression that she was registered as G-ECAN as the prototype was G-ACAN and this was the closest period style registration available.
Could well be wrong but it was something alluded to in the past..
By: Rlangham - 28th June 2009 at 22:51
Am I right in thinking the 1920s G-E*** sequence ended with G-EBZZ? For a truly authentic 1943 period registration you’d be looking at something in the G-AG** sequence, surely.
I take the point though about G-ECAN at least looking a bit more authentic that a collision of consonants. And it does look nice.
I think that rather and be an authentic registration for 1943, it’s that it’s an authentic registration for the early 1930’s, matching the Railway Air Services markings
By: mark_pilkington - 28th June 2009 at 22:43
.
I understand the fuselage was completely rebuilt in Australia and the rest of the airframe restored in the UK.
Regards
Mark Pilkington
By: Scouse - 28th June 2009 at 22:26
Am I right in thinking the 1920s G-E*** sequence ended with G-EBZZ? For a truly authentic 1943 period registration you’d be looking at something in the G-AG** sequence, surely.
I take the point though about G-ECAN at least looking a bit more authentic that a collision of consonants. And it does look nice.
By: scotavia - 28th June 2009 at 21:54
The reason is that the registration gives the aircraft a period appearance. It represents an epic part of British air transport history and G-BZTW for example would look all wrong. I am very pleased that the CAA allows this dispensation.
I managed to take some air to air views of this Dragon on May 29 th this year and the standard of finish is excellent.
If you are keen on base locations, then buy a copy of the Air Britain Uk register, it is packed with info .
By: Newforest - 28th June 2009 at 21:45
Seems a perfectly innocent question to ascertain where she is based?
Would also be interested to know who was the restorer.
I find it peculiar that it has a 1920’s registration for a 1943 built machine and wondered whether there was any particular reason for that choice.:)
By: The Blue Max - 28th June 2009 at 21:28
It was restored here in the UK, why do you want to know where she is based??
By: G-ASEA - 28th June 2009 at 20:52
G-ECAN is an De Havilland Australia built machine c/n 2048. It was built for the RAAF as A34-59, converted to civilian standard as VH-AQU , Later VH-DCX. When it was imported into the UK it was given a period registation. It was in Australia in the Marshall Airways collection at Banksdown Airport.
I flew in it at Halton The other week, forfilling a 45 year wish to fly in a DH Dragon.
Dave:)
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June 28, 2009 at 6:59 pm