Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Categories: British airliners 1930-1939 | British military utility aircraft 1930-1939 | World War II British utility aircraft
De Havilland Dragon Rapide
| de Havilland Dragon Rapide | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Passenger transport / trainer | |
| Crew | 2 | |
| Passengers | 8 | |
| First flight | April 17, 1934 | |
| Entered service | ||
| Manufacturer | de Havilland | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 34 ft 6 in | 10.5 m |
| Wingspan | 48 ft 0 in | 14.6 m |
| Height | 10 ft 3 in | 3.1 m |
| Wing area | 340 ft² | 31.6 m² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 3,230 lb | 1,460 kg |
| Loaded | 5,500 lb | 2,490 kg |
| Maximum takeoff | lb | kg |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engine | 2 × de Havilland Gipsy Six | |
| Power (each) | 200 hp | 150 kW |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 157 mph @ 1,000 ft | 253 km/h @ 300 m |
| Combat range | 573 miles | 920 km |
| Ferry range | km | miles |
| Service ceiling | 16,700 ft | 5,090 m |
| Rate of climb | 867 ft/min | 260 m/min |
The de Havilland DH 89 Dragon Rapide was a successful British short-haul passenger airliner of the 1930s. Designed as a successor to the DH 84 Dragon , it featured the tapered wings and streamlined undercarriage fairings of the four-engined DH 86 Express.
In 1936 General Franco was carried in a DH 89 on his escape from Africa to Spain at the start of the Civil War.
At the start of World War II many Dragon Rapides were impressed by the British armed forces and together with fresh RAF orders served under the designation de Havilland Dominie. As well as passengers duties they were used for radio navigational training.
731 Rapides were built and they have proved astonishingly durable with many still flying into the 21st century.
| Related content | |
|---|---|
| Related development | de Havilland Dragon - de Havilland Express |
| Similar aircraft | |
| Designation series | |
| Related lists | |
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