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De Havilland Dragon

{{Short description|1932 twin engine light transport aircraft}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}

{{EngvarB|date=May 2019}}

{{Infobox aircraft

|name = DH.84 Dragon

|image = De Havilland Dragon Sywell 2006.jpg

|caption =de Havilland DH.84 Dragon G-ECAN at Sywell Air Show, September 2006

|type = Passenger and military transport / trainer

|manufacturer = de Havilland

|designer =

|first_flight = 12 November 1932

|introduction = April 1933

|retired =

|status =

|primary_user =

|more_users =

|produced =

|number_built =202

|unit cost =

|developed_from =

|variants =

}}

{{lowercase title|de Havilland Dragon}}

The de Havilland DH.84 Dragon is a successful small commercial aircraft that was designed and built by the de Havilland company.

Design and construction

Following the commercial success of its single-engined de Havilland Fox Moth that had first flown in March 1932, that aircraft's original commercial operator Hillman's Airways requested that a larger twin-engined version be built. The Dragon was a simple, light design with a plywood box fuselage using the same type of engine and similar outer wing sections of the earlier single-engined aircraft. It was originally designated the DH.84 "Dragon Moth" but marketed as the "Dragon". A prototype, which first flew at Stag Lane Aerodrome on 12 November 1932, and the next four aircraft were delivered to Hillman's which started a commercial service in April 1933. It could carry six passengers, each with 45 lb (20 kg) of luggage on the London-Paris route on a fuel consumption of just 13 gal (49 L) per hour. The wing panels outboard of the engines could be folded for storage.{{harvnb|Jackson|1973|p=122}}

Operational service

File:DH84 Dragon G-ECAN at Woburn Tiger Moth Rally 2007.jpg

The Dragon proved very attractive as a short-haul low capacity airliner and was soon in service worldwide. From the 63rd aircraft late in 1933, the Dragon 2, with improvements including individually framed windows and faired undercarriage struts, was produced. Even though these changes were largely cosmetic the streamlining improved the aircraft's speed by about 5 mph (8 km/h), allowed 250 lb (113 kg) more payload to be carried and added 85 mi (137 km) of range.

British production of the DH.84 ended at the 115th aircraft, when it was replaced on the assembly line by the more powerful and elegant DH.89 de Havilland Dragon Rapide. However, after production was discontinued, the drawings and surviving tools and jigs were sent out from GB and quantity production was ordered for the RAAF (a total of eighty-seven) during the Second World War at Bankstown, Australia, as a navigational trainer for the Royal Australian Air Force, being preferred to the Rapide because its smaller engines were then being manufactured locally for de Havilland Tiger Moth production, making a total of 202 produced.

A new four-seat Dragon was delivered in 1933 to the Royal Flight for use by the Prince of Wales. It was sold in 1935. It was later pressed into service by the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War.

A special aircraft named Seafarer was built for Amy Johnson (a pioneering English aviator) and her husband Jim Mollison (a famous Scottish pioneer aviator) to make an attempt at the world long distance record. It had a strengthened landing gear and the cabin had extra fuel tanks. It was intended to fly from New York City to Baghdad, Iraq, but at their first attempt at a transatlantic flight from Croydon Airport in South London to the United States on 8 June 1933 the landing gear collapsed. After repairs Seafarer left Pendine Sands in South Wales and arrived at Bridgeport, Connecticut, in the United States 39 hours later. However, on landing the aircraft turned over and was damaged.{{sfn|Riding|1980|pp=285–286}}

File:Schaffen De Havilland DH-84 Dragon 2 01.JPG

The engines and fuel tanks were recovered from Seafarer and used in another Dragon named Seafarer II. After three attempts to take off from Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada, for Baghdad, Iraq, the attempt was abandoned and the aircraft was sold. On 8 August 1934, the new owners, James Ayling and Leonard Reid, took off in the Dragon, renamed Trail of the Caribou, from Wasaga Beach in another attempt at the distance record. Although the intended target was Baghdad, throttle problems forced the attempt to be abandoned, and Trail of the Caribou landed at Heston Aerodrome, an airfield west of London, in Middlesex, England, after 30 hours 55 minutes, making the first non-stop flight between the Canadian mainland and Britain.{{sfn|Riding|1980|p=289}}{{harvnb|Lewis|1971|p=265}}

The inaugural service of the Irish Airline Aer Lingus was provided by a DH.84 Dragon, registration EI-ABI and named Iolar, which means "Eagle" in the Irish language. For the 50th anniversary of the airline in 1986, a replacement Dragon was acquired, restored, reregistered as EI-ABI and repainted as the Iolar.

Following the War, surviving DH.84s passed into commercial service, but only three are still flying today.

Accidents and incidents

  • 26 September 1933 – ZS-AEF of the Aircraft Operating Company crashed at Baragwanath Airport, near Johannesburg, South Africa. The pilot was World War I flying ace, William Kennedy-Cochran-Patrick and the single passenger was Sir Michael Oppenheimer, 2nd Baronet; both were killed.{{Cite web |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=27745 |title=Accident de Havilland DH.84 Dragon ZS-AEF, 26 Sep 1933 |last=Ranter |first=Harro |website=aviation-safety.net |access-date=11 October 2019}}{{cite journal |date=28 September 1933 |title=DEATH OF MAJOR COCHRAN-PATRICK, D.S.O., M.C.|journal=Flight |volume=XXV|id=No. 1292 |pages=971 |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1933/1933%20-%200653.html |access-date=10 October 2019 }}
  • 8 January 1935 – G-ACGK of Highland Airways Limited crashed into the Beauly Firth after takeoff from Longman Airport, Inverness, Scotland. The pilot and both passengers were killed.{{Cite web |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=25029 |title=Accident de Havilland DH.84 Dragon G-ACGK, 08 Jan 1935 |last=Ranter |first=Harro |website=aviation-safety.net |access-date=11 October 2019}}
  • 21 February 1935 – two American sisters, Jane and Elizabeth Du Bois, jumped from G-ACEV of Hillman's Airways, en route from Stapleford Aerodrome, Essex, to Paris. They were the only passengers and the pilot was the only crew-member. The two women had bought all the seats on the aircraft, but claiming before take-off that their companions could not travel that day. Their bodies were found on waste ground in Upminster, but the pilot only became aware of what had happened some time later when over the English Channel.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Fall From An Air Liner |date=22 February 1935 |page=14 |issue=46995}} The women were the daughters of the American Consul in Naples, Court Du Bois; they had been well-known socialites and their deaths were widely reported. Press speculation linked their double suicide with the recent deaths of two R.A.F. pilots, with whom they had been romantically linked.Terry Carter, "Jane and Elizabeth Du Bois – an American tragedy in Essex," Loughton and District Historical Society Newsletter 189 (March/April 2011): 5–6.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nwamuseum.co.uk/DuBoisSisters1935.pdf|website=North Weald Airfield Museum|title=A Strange Affsair: The deaths of two young Americans|access-date=9 October 2019|archive-date=18 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818220151/http://nwamuseum.co.uk/DuBoisSisters1935.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |url=https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=192914 |title=Accident deHavilland DH.84 Dragon G-ACEV, 21 Feb 1935 |last=Ranter |first=Harro |website=aviation-safety.net |access-date=9 October 2019}} The pilots had been both killed in the crash of a Short Singapore flying boat near Messina, Italy, six days earlier.{{cite journal |date=21 February 1935 |title=The Royal Air Force: Service Notes and News|journal=Flight |volume=XXVII|id=No. 1365 |pages=204 |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1935/1935%20-%200406.html |access-date=10 October 2019 }}
  • On 1 July 1935, G-ADED of Railway Air Services crashed on take-off from Ronaldsway Airport, Isle of Man injuring all seven people on board. The aircraft, was operating a scheduled passenger flight from Ronaldsway to Ringway Airport, Manchester, Lancashire via Squires Gate Airport, Blackpool and Speke Airport, Liverpool; it was destroyed in the subsequent fire.{{sfn|Poole|1999|pp=12–13}}
  • On 22 July 1935, G-ACMP of Jersey Airways,{{cite web |title=Aircraft Details for: G-ACMP (PDF) |url=https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/ |website=CAA G-INFO |publisher=Civil Aviation Authority (UK) |access-date=21 February 2020}} operating a domestic flight from Bristol to Cardiff, with a pilot and two passengers on board, crashed while approaching Cardiff Airport. The aircraft spun and dived into the Bristol Channel about two miles off the Welsh coast, near Rumney, Cardiff killing all three on board.[http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk The British Newspaper Archive]: Western Daily Press, Tuesday 23 July 1935: 'PLANE DIVES INTO SEA.{{cite web|url=http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/p060.html|publisher=airhistory.org.uk|title=De Havilland production p060.|access-date=2 March 2017}}
  • On 26 March 1936, G-ACAP of Commercial Air Hire crashed near Lyndhurst, Hampshire, England killing all five on board. The aircraft had flown from Croydon Airport and was carrying out military co-operation work around Southampton. Commercial Air Hire had a contract to fly at night to give searchlight crews practice at locating aircraft."Air Crash in the New Forest." Times [London, England] 27 March 1936: 14. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 4 Oct 201
  • On 7 May 1937, VH-UZG of North Queensland Airways crashed into trees near Cairns Airport, one passenger later dying from his injuries. The pilot and three other passengers were also seriously injured.Queensland Times, 8 May 1938.
  • On 29 August 1938, VH-UXK Cairns of North Queensland Airways, crashed at Innisfail, Queensland killing the pilot and four passengers.Argus, 9 August 1938.
  • 21 September 1951 – Pilot First Officer Frederick George Barlogie of Bondi, New South Wales, was killed when his Qantas DH-84 Dragon crashed into mountainous country {{convert|11|km}} southeast of Arona in the central highlands of New Guinea.{{cite news|title=Pilot killed in Qantas crash|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2838302|access-date=11 February 2018|work=Canberra Times|page=4}}
  • On 13 December 1951 – The pilot and two passengers were killed when a Qantas Dragon crashed in mountainous country near Mount Hagen in the central highlands of New Guinea, Qantas's third fatal crash in four months, and most recent fatal accident to date.{{cite news|title=Air crash in New Guinea |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/42724472|access-date=11 February 2018|work=Cairns Post|date=15 December 1951|page=5}}

File:DH84 Dragon.jpg

  • 1 October 2012 – 2012 Riama crash. A privately owned 1934 de Havilland DH.84 Dragon 2 registration VH-UXG, named Riama (pictured) went missing in bad weather returning from an air show near Monto, Queensland, Australia to Caboolture.[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/search-on-for-missing-plane-between-kingaroy-and-maleny/story-e6frg6n6-1226486050351 Up to 15 helicopters search for missing DH84 Dragon] The Australian – 2 October 2012 Queensland Police found the wreckage near Borumba Dam. All six occupants were killed and the aircraft destroyed after impacting a ridge.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-03/police-locate-vintage-plane-crash-site/4293484 Police locate vintage plane crash site] – Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Retrieved 3 October 2012. The pilot and owner had flown into unexpected thick cloud and issued a sécurité call. The aircraft's only primary instruments were an airspeed indicator and altimeter.

Variants

  • Dragon 1: Twin-engined medium transport biplane.
  • Dragon 2: Improved version. Fitted with framed cabin windows and two faired main undercarriage legs.
  • DH.84M Dragon: Military transport version. The DH.84M was armed with two machine guns, and it could carry up to sixteen 20 lb (9 kg) bombs. Exported to Denmark, Iraq and Portugal.

Operators

♠ Original operators

=Military operators=

;{{flag|Australia}}

;{{flag|Austria}}

;{{flag|Brazil}}

;{{flag|Denmark}}

;{{ETH}}

;{{flag|Iraq|1924}}

;{{flag|Ireland}}

;{{NZL}}

;{{flag|Portugal}}

;{{flag|South Africa|1928}}

  • South African Air Force♠ – One aircraft operated during 1940.{{cite web |url=https://www.dehavilland.co.za/DH84_Dragon.html |title = DH.84 Dragon. de Haviiland Aircraft South Africa}}

;{{flag|Spanish Republic}}

  • Spanish Republican Air Force{{cite web|title=Spanish Civil War Aircraft|url=http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/drnash/model/spain/did.html|access-date=14 April 2012|archive-date=5 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205085135/http://www.zi.ku.dk/personal/drnash/model/Spain/did.html|url-status=dead}}

;{{TUR}}

;{{flag|United Kingdom}}

;{{flag|Kingdom of Yugoslavia}}

=Civil operators=

;{{AUS}}

;{{BRA}}

;{{CAN}}

;{{CZS}}

A single de Havilland DH.84 Dragon, designed OK-ATO, was operated by the Bata shoe company as a short-haul executive transport

;{{EGY}}

  • Misrair

;{{FRA}}

;{{IND}}

;{{IRL}}

File:Aer Lingus De Havilland DH-84 Dragon 2 EI-ABI OTT 2013 03.jpg

;{{flag|Kenya|colonial}}

;{{NZL}}

;{{flag|Portuguese Timor}}

;{{flagcountry|Union of South Africa}}

  • African Air Transport ♠

;{{UK}}

File:DH.84 Dragon G-ACIT AN&T Yeadon 21.05.56 edited-2.jpg

;{{flag|Latvia}}

Specifications (DH.84 Dragon 1)

File:De_Havilland_DH_84_3-view_L'Aerophile_February_1933.jpg

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=de Havilland Aircraft since 1909{{harvnb|Jackson|1987|p=334}}

|prime units?=imp

|crew=1

|capacity= 6–10 passengers

|length ft=34

|length in=6

|length note=

|span ft=47

|span in=4

|span note=

|height ft=10

|height in=1

|height note=

|wing area sqft=376

|wing area note=

|aspect ratio=

|airfoil=RAF 15{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}

|empty weight lb=2300

|empty weight note=

|gross weight lb=4200

|gross weight note=

|max takeoff weight lb=

|max takeoff weight note=

|fuel capacity=

|more general=

|eng1 number=2

|eng1 name= de Havilland Gipsy Major I

|eng1 type=4-cylinder air-cooled inverted in-line piston engine

|eng1 hp=130

|eng1 note=

|prop blade number=2

|prop name=fixed-pitch propellers

|prop dia ft=

|prop dia in=

|prop dia note=

|max speed mph=128

|max speed note=

|cruise speed mph=109

|cruise speed note=

|stall speed mph=

|stall speed note=

|never exceed speed mph=

|never exceed speed note=

|minimum control speed mph=

|minimum control speed note=

|range miles=460

|range note=

|ferry range miles=

|ferry range note=

|endurance=

|ceiling ft=12500

|ceiling note=

|glide ratio=

|climb rate ftmin=612

|climb rate note=

|time to altitude=

|lift to drag=

|wing loading lb/sqft=

|wing loading note=

|fuel consumption lb/mi=

|power/mass=

|thrust/weight=

|more performance=

}}

See also

{{aircontent

|related=

|similar aircraft=

|lists=

|see also=

}}

References

{{Reflist}}

Bibliography

  • {{cite magazine |last=Arthur |first=Robin |title=Pre-War Airliner Fleets: I. Hillman's Airways Ltd |magazine=Archive |publisher=Air-Britain |year=1992 |issue=1 |pages=23–24 |issn=0262-4923}}
  • {{cite magazine |title=Complete Civil Registers: 5: CR-T: Portuguese Timor |magazine=Archive |publisher=Air-Britain |year=1982 |issue=2 |page=32 |issn=0262-4923 |ref={{harvid|Archive 1982, No. 2}} }}
  • {{cite book |last=Dodds |first=Colin N. |title=The Story of the de Havilland Dragon Types |year=2005 |location=Tonbridge, UK |publisher=Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. |isbn=0-85130-363-3}}
  • {{cite magazine |last=Hooks |first=Mike |title=Civvies at War |magazine=Aeroplane |date=October 2011 |publisher=Kelsey Publishing Group |location=Cudham }}
  • {{cite book |last=Jackson |first=A.J. |title=De Havilland Aircraft since 1909|edition=Third |year= 1987|publisher= Putnam |location= London|isbn= 0-85177-802-X}}
  • {{cite book| last=Jackson|first=A.J.| title=British Civil Aircraft 1919–1972: Volume II| edition=1988| publisher=Putnam (Conway Maritime Press)| location=London| year=1988|isbn=0-85177-813-5 }}
  • {{cite book |last= Jackson|first= A.J.|title= British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 2|year= 1973|publisher= Putnam|location= London|page=382|isbn=0-370-10010-7 }}
  • {{cite magazine|last1=Justo|first1=Craig P.|title=Timeless Transport: Australia's Resurrected DH.84 Dragon|magazine=Air Enthusiast |date=January–February 2004 |issue=109 |pages=2–11 |issn=0143-5450}}
  • {{cite magazine|last1=Lucchini|first1=Carlo|title=Le meeting saharien de 1938 |magazine=Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire |date=April 1999 |issue=73 |pages=53–57 |trans-title=The 1938 Sahara Air Meeting|language=French |issn=1243-8650}}
  • {{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Peter|title=British Racing and Record-Breaking Aircraft|year=1971|publisher=Putnam|location=London|isbn=0-370-00067-6}}
  • {{Cite book | last = Poole| first = Stephen | year = 1999| title = Rough Landing or Fatal Flight | publisher=Amulree Publications| location = Douglas| isbn = 1-901508-03-X }}
  • {{cite magazine |last=Riding |first=Richard |title=The Black Dragons |magazine=Aeroplane Monthly |date=June 1980 |volume=8 |issue=6 |pages=284–290 |issn=0143-7240 }}
  • {{Commons category-inline}}

{{de Havilland aircraft}}

{{de Havilland Australia aircraft}}

{{Spanish liaison aircraft}}

{{ADF aircraft designations}}

{{Authority control}}

Dragon

Category:1930s British airliners

Category:1930s British military utility aircraft

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Category:Aircraft first flown in 1932

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Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear