Oxford Diecast 1:72 72DR014 DH.89 Dragon Rapide (Dominie) HG709, British Royal Navy, RNAS Culdrose |
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Scale: 1:72 |
Length: 5.75" |
Width: 8" |
Composition: Diecast |
SKU: OX-72DR014 |
Historical:
At the start of World War II, many (Dragon) Rapides were impressed by the British armed forces and served under the name de Havilland Dominie, for passenger and communications duties. Over 500 more were built for military use, powered by improved Gipsy Queen engines, to bring total production to 731. The Dominies were mainly used by the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy for radio and navigation training. Postwar they were used as communications aircraft by Royal Naval air station flights.
Other civilian Dragon Rapides continued to fly for UK airlines as part of the Associated Airways Joint Committee (AAJC). The AAJC co-ordinated the UKs wartime scheduled services which were entirely operated on over-water routes.
After the war, many ex-RAF survivors entered commercial service; in 1958, 81 examples were still flying on the British register. Dominie production was by de Havilland and Brush Coachworks Ltd, the latter making the greater proportion.
Info: de Havilland Dominie – HG709, British Royal Navy, RNAS Culdrose