| de Havilland Dragon Rapide | |
|---|---|
| Pays | Royaume-uni |
| Rôle | Avion de ligne court-courrier |
| Premier vol | Le 17 avril 1934 |
| Construit | 727 |
Lla de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide is a 1930s short-haul biplane airliner developed and produced by British aircraft company de Havilland. Capable of accommodating 6–8 passengers, it proved an economical and durable craft, despite its relatively primitive plywood construction. Developed during the early 1930s, the Dragon Rapide was essentially a smaller, twin-engined version of the four-engined DH.86 Express, and shared a number of common features, such as its tapered wings, streamlined fairings and Gipsy Six engines. First named the « Dragon Six », le type a été commercialisé comme « Dragon Rapide » et plus tard simplement connu sous le nom de « Rapide (Rapide) ». Lors de son introduction à l’été 1934, il s’est avéré être un avion populaire auprès des compagnies aériennes et des opérateurs civils privés, atteignant des ventes étrangères considérables en plus de son utilisation domestique.
| de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographe | Inconnu |
| Localisation | Inconnu |
| Photos | 30 |
Voir aussi :
General Characteristics
The de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide is a classic British twin-engine biplane airliner from the 1930s. Designed as a faster and more comfortable successor to the DH.84 Dragon, it proved to be a highly successful, economical, and durable short-haul transport aircraft despite its primary construction of wood (spruce and plywood) and fabric skin. Its popularity was immense, and during World War II, many were pressed into military service with the RAF and Royal Navy as the **de Havilland Dominie**, primarily for navigation training and light transport roles.
[Image of the De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide biplane]| Property | Typical Value (DH.89A) |
|---|---|
| Rôle | Short-Haul Airliner, Transport, Trainer (as Dominie) |
| National Origin | Royaume-Uni |
| Fabricant | de Havilland Aircraft Company (en) |
| First Flight | April 17, 1934 |
| No. Built | ~728 (including military Dominie) |
| Crew | 1 (or 2) |
| Passenger Capacity | 6–8 |
| Length | 10.5 m (34 ft 6 in) |
| Envergure | 14.6 m (48 ft 0 in) |
| Max Takeoff Weight | 2,495 kg (5,500 lb) |
Powerplant and Performance
- Engine: 2 x de Havilland Gipsy Six 6-cylinder air-cooled, inverted inline piston engines. (Later variants sometimes used the Gipsy Queen engine).
- Power Output (each): 149 kW (200 hp).
- Maximum Speed: 253 km/h (157 mph) at 305 m (1,000 ft).
- Cruise Speed: 212 km/h (132 mph).
- Range: 920 km (573 miles).
- Service Ceiling: 5,090 m (16,700 ft).
- Key Variant Feature: The DH.89A introduced small trailing-edge flaps to the lower wings for improved landing performance.
Design and Operational History
- Design Concept: Essentially a twin-engine, scaled-down version of the four-engined DH.86 Express, sharing tapered wings and streamlined fairings.
- Construction: Featured a simple, durable, wood-frame and fabric-skin construction, which contributed to its low operating costs and commercial success.
- Wartime Service (Dominie): Served extensively during WWII as a reliable trainer, transport, and air ambulance for the RAF and Royal Navy.
- Legacy: A number of Dragon Rapides still fly today, a testament to their enduring design and reliability, nearly a century after their first flight.
Vues : 1219
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