Sir Geoffrey de Havilland's Hatfield, England based company had already been established for two decades when the DH.84 Dragon twin-engined airliner first appeared in 1932. The Dragon was an immediate success in its first role, flying passengers between London and Paris, six passengers carried in closed cabin comfort and with the security of twin engines. The facility to fold the wings made it easier to keep the aircraft hangared and out of the weather. Larger engines and revised wing design and streamlining saw the introduction of the DH.89 Dragon Rapide (originally called the 'Dragon Six', reflecting the jump from four-cylinder Gipsy Major engines to six cylinder Gipsy Sixes).
Prior to the introduction of the Dragon Rapide, a total of 115 DH.84 Dragons had been completed, but the story didn't end there. A requirement by the Royal Australian Air Force for a navigation trainer during WW-II saw the recommencement of production of the DH.84 by de Havilland Australia Pty Ltd at Bankstown, NSW. The Dragon made more sense than the Rapide as the Gipsy Major engines that powered the DH.84 were in large scale manufacture in Australia for the Tiger Moth production line.
The total result from both English and Australian production came to 202 aircraft. Understandably, as these were replaced by more modern equipment these prior to, during or soon after WW-II and they were scrapped. A number carried on as freighters and aerial ambulances for a time after the end of the war before the survivors found their way to museums and collectors. Today, a mere 10 Dragons survive, with just half of them airworthy, so these charming old time machines do not become available every day.
Sir Geoffrey de Havilland's Hatfield, England based company had already been established for two decades when the DH.84 Dragon twin-engined airliner first appeared in 1932. The Dragon was an immediate success in its first role, flying passengers between London and Paris, six passengers carried in closed cabin comfort and with the security of twin engines. The facility to fold the wings made it easier to keep the aircraft hangared and out of the weather. Larger engines and revised wing design and streamlining saw the introduction of the DH.89 Dragon Rapide (originally called the 'Dragon Six', reflecting the jump from four-cylinder Gipsy Major engines to six cylinder Gipsy Sixes).
Prior to the introduction of the Dragon Rapide, a total of 115 DH.84 Dragons had been completed, but the story didn't end there. A requirement by the Royal Australian Air Force for a navigation trainer during WW-II saw the recommencement of production of the DH.84 by de Havilland Australia Pty Ltd at Bankstown, NSW. The Dragon made more sense than the Rapide as the Gipsy Major engines that powered the DH.84 were in large scale manufacture in Australia for the Tiger Moth production line.
The total result from both English and Australian production came to 202 aircraft. Understandably, as these were replaced by more modern equipment these prior to, during or soon after WW-II and they were scrapped. A number carried on as freighters and aerial ambulances for a time after the end of the war before the survivors found their way to museums and collectors. Today, a mere 10 Dragons survive, with just half of them airworthy, so these charming old time machines do not become available every day.