De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
De Havilland Aircraft Company · United Kingdom · first flew 1934 · transport aircraft
The De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide was a British twin-engine biplane airliner of the 1930s, widely used for short-range scheduled services throughout the British Empire and beyond. Its elegant tapered wing and streamlined nacelles made it one of the most graceful biplanes ever built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.51 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-engine biplane airliner with tapered wings
- Streamlined cabin with rounded windows
- Distinctive de Havilland tapered-wing biplane profile
Unmistakable tapered-wing biplane with twin engines in streamlined nacelles between the wings, large cabin windows and de Havilland's characteristic wing shape; slimmer and more elegant than the earlier DH.84 Dragon.
Specifications
- The De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide has a length of 10.51 m (34 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.63 m (48 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 253 km/h (157 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2 + 6-8 passengers.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1934, the Dragon Rapide quickly found favour with regional and colonial airlines, and over 730 were built. During the Second World War many were impressed into RAF service as the Dominie for navigation and radio training and light communications duties. Post-war, surplus Dominies returned to civil use and the type flew scheduled routes in the British Isles and islands into the 1960s and beyond.
Variants
The Dragon Rapide was the civil version; the RAF Dominie was the military trainer/communications variant. Some were fitted with autopilots and updated radios for later service.
Where you'll see it
Operated by British airlines, colonial carriers across Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and numerous private operators; served with the RAF as the Dominie; a small number remain airworthy as heritage aircraft.
Related aircraft
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