Dragon Rapide

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Moose47
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Dragon Rapide

Post by Moose47 »

G'day

The honour of the first aircraft to land at RCAF Station Goose Bay goes to Quebec Airways Limited. On the 3rd of December 1941, a ski-equipped de Havilland D.H.89A Dragon Rapide touched down on the snow-packed runway heralding the first of tens of thousands of aircraft that would transit through the 'Goose'. The aircraft, c/n 6374, was built by de Havilland at its plant in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. It was shipped by sea to Canada, where it was delivered to Quebec Airways Limited on the 23rd of August 1938. The aircraft was given the Canadian civil aircraft registration CF-BFP. It was later sold to Canadian Pacific Airlines in 1942. On the 5th of July 1945, the port 200 horsepower de Havilland Gipsy Queen engine caught fire while starting up at Walker Lake, Quebec.  The aircraft was destroyed.

Sorry for the poor quality of the photo.

Cheers...Chris
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Skythings
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Re: Dragon Rapide

Post by Skythings »

I had the opportunity to fly aboard the Lady Faye owned by George Lemay in September 1982 in Calgary.

http://www.skythings.ca/my-aviation-col ... ish-perry/
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Pop n Fresh
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Re: Dragon Rapide

Post by Pop n Fresh »

That is a great photo. I am happy to view it in that quality.

Are you flying lately Skythings?
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lownslow
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Re: Dragon Rapide

Post by lownslow »

I had the opportunity to sit in the cockpit of Lady Faye once and make airplane noises. Six months later I hear a rumour that I had been hired to fly her off the frozen St. Mary's river to her new owner three hundred miles away. I wish...
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Antique Pilot
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Re: Dragon Rapide

Post by Antique Pilot »

Hi Chris,

Just a small comment. BFP is actually a Rapide not a Dragon Rapide. The early Rapides were called Dragon Rapides but after some improvements the company went back to naming them Rapides.

For instance: the original AYE is a DH89 Dragon Rapide, built in 1936. It was used in
fire practice at YVR in 1951.

BFP is a DH89A Rapide built in 1938.

BND is a DH89A Rapide built in 1937. It pranged on Digby Island off Prince Rupert BC in 1949. Pilot was Roy Berryman. The remains of the aircraft are in storage with the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada.

AP
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oldtimer
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Re: Dragon Rapide

Post by oldtimer »

What did they call the one with 4 engines. I only saw pictures of one.
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Re: Dragon Rapide

Post by Antique Pilot »

oldtimer wrote:What did they call the one with 4 engines. I only saw pictures of one.
DH 86, DH 86A. 49 produced.

The 86B was a conversion of the 86A.

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Moose47
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Re: Dragon Rapide

Post by Moose47 »

G'day Antique Pilot

Thanks for the correction.

Cheers...Chris
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Re: Dragon Rapide

Post by Antique Pilot »

Moose47 wrote:G'day Antique Pilot

Thanks for the correction.

Cheers...Chris
You are very welcome.

Back to the 4 engined DH 86 version...it was called the "Express". My report of 49 produced may be wrong. Google says 62 built.

AP
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xsbank
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Re: Dragon Rapide

Post by xsbank »

There used to be a Rapide that did sightseeing trips out of Portsmouth, England. Sadly, I never took a ride in it. Reputedly it has the handling characteristics of a Chipmunk.
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Re: Dragon Rapide

Post by Antique Pilot »

xsbank wrote:There used to be a Rapide that did sightseeing trips out of Portsmouth, England. Sadly, I never took a ride in it. Reputedly it has the handling characteristics of a Chipmunk.
A company operates Rapide flights out of Duxford. It is on my bucket list.


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Re: Dragon Rapide

Post by Antique Pilot »

Skythings wrote:I had the opportunity to fly aboard the Lady Faye owned by George Lemay in September 1982 in Calgary.

http://www.skythings.ca/my-aviation-col ... ish-perry/

Here is George Lemay with Lady Faye at Beiseker AB about 1995.
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Brian Mason
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Re: Dragon Rapide

Post by Brian Mason »

Just found this blog. Back in '77 a friend was doing a X-country flight and flew over the LeMay farm. He returned to Calgary and excitedly told me we need to drive to Acme to see this twin biplane sitting there. That's how I met George. In the hangar was the Staggering, a Fly Baby, Tiger moth and parts of the Rapide. We spent the whole day there. I just wish I was as much a wing nut then as I am now. I'm going to go see Lady Faye now.
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