de Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide

After successful internal British flight operations with the Fox Moth biplane, Hillman Airways of Romford, Essex, encouraged de Havilland to provide a twin engined, longer range version able to operate flights across the Channel. By November 1932 this had resulted in the popular six passenger Dragon. Then, in 1933, de Havilland designed and built their first four engined machine, the ten seater DH.86, to an Australian government specification for an airliner to operate safely across long stretches of sea. The 86 was adopted by airlines in Australia and elsewhere and 62 were built in all by 1937.

By the outbreak of WW2 in 1939 205 Rapides had been built, many of which were impressed into the British armed forces as ‘Dominies’ and used for transport and radio navigation training. Despite the relative lack of success of earlier attempts to market a military version, more than 500 specifically military Dominies were then built, powered by an improved engine, the Gipsy Queen, bringing total production to 731.

Many survivors entered commercial service after the war and the Rapide proved a hard act to follow, with many still flying in the early 2000s and several operational in the UK today, some still giving pleasure flights.

About this aircraft

Built in 1945 as a Dominie by Brush Coachworks Ltd at Loughborough, G-AGSH was civilianised as a DH.89a and first registered to Channel Islands Airways Ltd of Jersey in July 1945. She then went to the Minister of Civil Aviation from November 1946 to January 1947 before spending nine years with BEA as James Keir Hardie, operating the Highlands and Islands service. (‘GSH was later bought back by BEA in the early 1960s and as their last biplane, named Lord Baden Powell, operated the Lands End - Scilly Isles route until the introduction of helicopters.) During her life she has passed through the hands of many owners, including more than half a dozen small airlines, a short spell in Ireland as EI-AJO, and the RAF Sport Parachute Association at Abingdon.

Philip Meeson has proudly owned her since 1992 and states that he has no intention of parting with her. In his ownership she has been painstakingly rebuilt and restored to her BEA colours and condition by Cliff Lovell at Hants Light Plane Services. 

Specification