Old aeroplane

[zulu Delta 534]

Did anyone else notice what I took to be a DH Dragon Rapide flying south from Archerfield in the direction of the Gold Coast about 1100 this morning.
If that is what it was, it sure has been a long time since I saw my first one of those.
When I was 5 (about 60 years ago), an RAAF Dragon Rapide was running low on fuel on a flight from where ever to Malallar in SA (Its home base) so it landed in the horse yard of the school where my father was the teacher. He took the pilot into Two Wells in our Fiat canvas roofed car called 'Freddy' where they purchased a 4 gallon drum of petrol from the local store with which to refuel the aircraft.
In return for this favour the pilot took the whole complement of us school kids (about 8 or 9 or so) for a very memorable circuituous flight around the area, dropped us off, waved farewell and continued on with his journey.
Havent times changed? Try and imagine that happening today.
Enough nostalgia, must get on with it.
Regards
Glen

[Dinty]

G'day All, No mate I didn't see it, but being 500 miles away I doubt that I would LOL, and as for it happening today well with work cover, riot squad, terror squad, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, and a media black out we wouldn't have even been aware of it LOL;), but memories from our childhood are worth billions compared to what doesn't happen today thanks for sharing Glen cheers mate Dennis:angel:

[one_iota]

That's a great story.

I looked up the Dragon and its history is interesting:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Dragon_Rapide

[harry]

i dare to suggest it was a dragon, not a rapide.
red,
beautifully restored by the challinors at murwillumbah.

[JDNSW]

Although superficially similar to the DH84 Dragon the Rapide was a very different plane. The DH84 had two Gipsy major engines, the same as the Tiger Moth, and was one of the few light aircraft that have ever had a disposable load nearly equal to their empty weight. But its performance was more like the Tiger Moth.

The Rapide had performance much more like that of modern twin engined aircraft of the same size, although the lack of feathering propellers means the engine out capability is nowhere near as good. For the 1930s its performance was comparable with that of the new generation of retractable undercarriage all metal monoplanes, and shows, like the Beech Staggerwing, that a biplane is not necessarily low performance.

John

[zulu Delta 534]

It did look to be a red one even though the light was against it and I was driving at the time, otherwise I would have snapped it. If it as local as Murwillumbah there is a pretty good chance I will see it again.
I love all that old stuff with the working parts out in the open where you can see them.
Regards
Glen

[GregTD5]

Yes I saw that plane depart Archerfield in the morning, returning later in the afternoon.
Looked like a very nice restoration job.

Greg

[Stuck]

You got a free ride !!!. Hell, in yesterdays paper there was a whole bunch of Qantas passengers that couldn't even get a 5th sheet of toilet paper.

[87County]

Although superficially similar to the DH84 Dragon the Rapide was a very different plane. The DH84 had two Gipsy major engines, the same as the Tiger Moth, and was one of the few light aircraft that have ever had a disposable load nearly equal to their empty weight. But its performance was more like the Tiger Moth.........
John

:D maybe that is because it has Tiger Moth wings, eh John? (at least outboard of the engines they are :))

- Laurie

[harry]

Although superficially similar to the DH84 Dragon the Rapide was a very different plane. The DH84 had two Gipsy major engines, the same as the Tiger Moth, and was one of the few light aircraft that have ever had a disposable load nearly equal to their empty weight. But its performance was more like the Tiger Moth.

The Rapide had performance much more like that of modern twin engined aircraft of the same size, although the lack of feathering propellers means the engine out capability is nowhere near as good. For the 1930s its performance was comparable with that of the new generation of retractable undercarriage all metal monoplanes, and shows, like the Beech Staggerwing, that a biplane is not necessarily low performance.

John
missed this earlier - carpenters use planes.
geoffrey built aeroplanes.
to extend that - aircraft , biplane, monoplane, or many others.
but not plane.
grump.
it might interest you to know that the aircraft in question was restored from a total wreck to it's pristine condition today and is regularly used by its current owner, i have flown in it [passenger] and it is an absolute delight to be in. a beautiful and graceful aircraft from a era where time wasn't as important or as expensive, and technology was vastly different from today

[JDNSW]

:D maybe that is because it has Tiger Moth wings, eh John? (at least outboard of the engines they are :))

- Laurie

May have something to do with it, but really it is the whole design. There is, as you say, the wings - square and designed for a cruise speed around 60kts, but also the two four cylinder engines. Basically, a scaled up Moth (DH's first civilian plane).

The Rapide was a scaled down version of the DH86 four engined plane (which was designed specifically for Qantas although in service first for other operators) with elegantly tapered wings, six cylinder engines and streamlined wheel spats.

John

[VladTepes]

No I didn;t see it but if it's a de Havilland (and a Rapide is!) then it's a good plane !