de Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide

Developed as a short-haul airliner in the 1930s, the Dragon Rapide could accommodate up to 8 passengers, depending upon cabin configuration. With 205 examples manufactured before WWII, the type was one of the most successful British-built passenger aircraft of its era. Following the declaration of war on September 3, 1939, Dragon Rapides found use as radio and navigation trainers, not to mention cross-channel couriers. As the threat of invasion loomed for the British Isles, Dragon Rapides also found themselves pressed into service as Air Ambulances, a role which they would fill periodically throughout the war.

Originally delivered to the Anglo-Persian Oil Co. Ltd. in 1934, the Museum’s Dragon Rapide returned to the United Kingdom prior to WWII. The aircraft was impressed into military service in 1940 (alongside many other civilian aircraft in Britain), joining the Royal Air Force as Z7266. Initial plans suggested converting the airplane for ambulance service, however it went into storage instead. Surplus to military needs for the type at the time, with more powerful Dominie variants in production, the Air Ministry released the airplane to a civilian operator. In late 1941, registered as G-ACZE, the Dragon Rapide was flying for Allied Airways (Gander Dower) Ltd.

Indeed, Allied operated the aircraft throughout the remainder of the war, basing her in Aberdeen, Scotland to provide an important air link with the Orkney Islands. In December 1945, the aircraft suffered an accident at Kirkwall, the largest settlement in the Orkneys. The aircraft flew again following a rebuild, re-registered as G-AJGS.