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Havilland DH 89 Dominie
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Production
of the de Havilland DH 89A Dragon Rapide comennced in 1934, the prototype
flying from Hatfield for the first time on 17 April 1934. It was
essentially a replacement for the DH 84 Dragon, with many of the
improvements in design introduced in the DH 86 Express four-engined
airliner. During the Second World War a number of DH 89B aircraft were
delivered to the RAF for use as radio and navigation trainers under the
name Dominie. A total of 697 DH 89s had been completed when production
ceased in 1946. Cook Straight Airways imported the first of five Rapides
in 1935 for use between Nelson, Wellington, Blenheim, Westport and
Greymouth. Fourteen were impressed into the RNZAF in 1943 and used for
training and reconnaissance duties. NAC had six between 1947 and 1964,
including ZK-AKU, now privately owned and based at Ardmore. |
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