vk3awa Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 I flew to Corryong yesterday and was lucky enough to be offerred a ride in Dragon Rapide VH-UXZ. I read the history of this aircraft and noted that Sander Veenstra brought the damaged aircraft into Australiaa in 1979. It had several owners before Maurice Rolfe bought it and restored it as a part time project over thirty years. Must say, it was a great opportinity to have a flight in such an aircraft. 8 1 1
Guernsey Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 Thanks for that post it certainly brought back some memories. As a young teenage aircraft spotter I have flown many times in Dragon Rapides between the Channel Islands and also spent many hours in them sitting in the cockpit in the Guernsey hangars making the appropriate engine noises with my best mate. He was the starboard engine and I was the port, we never experienced an engine failure. To this day my biggest yearning was to fly one but never gained a twin rating or the opportunity. Their all around visibility from the cockpit ahead of the engines was very good indeed. I've also flown in the larger Dragon which I didn't like as much....too noisy with a lot of vibration. Alan. 2 1
kaz3g Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 Those that like old aeroplanes might enjoy Geoff Goodall's record of DH89's...the last one is Rolfe's in the air at Temora. http://www.goodall.com.au/australian-aviation/dh89/dh89.htm The photo below was taken at Echuca 2 years ago. Somewhere I have some nice photos of the very beautiful Riama before she crashed so tragically... I'll try to find them. Edit: I just found a newspaper report http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/atsb-interim-report-on-queenslands-de-havilland-dragon-crash-finds-biplane-hit-trees-at-speed/story-e6frg6n6-1226513037711 Kaz 1
Guernsey Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 That one was a DH84 Dragon not the DH89 Dragon Rapide. Alan.
Guest Howard Hughes Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 Where is the 'green with envy' smilie?
gandalph Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 As a kid I my Dad used to take me out to Bankstown where I would sit on the top of a fence stump while Dad talked to Sid Marshall about whatever. Sid used to run joy flights from the Milperra Road corner of the field using a DH84 Dragon and sometimes an Avro Anson. He used to take pity on this kid sitting in the sun and would often say to me "Looks like they'll need some ballast in the back to keep the tail down - better jump aboard." I've lost count of how many times "I've kept the the tail of the Dragon down" but I do remember that there must have been a problem with Sid's W&B calculations because I invariably ended up sitting right behind the pilot. Sid had an awful lot of interesting aircraft in his hanger. Wonder what happened to them? 1 1
gandalph Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 And there she is. According to Mr Goodall's comprehensive records, she is flying still. 2
spacesailor Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 I,ve been sitting on this fence watching :Trips/Events/Spare Seats : but no offers yet spacesailor
kaz3g Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 That one was a DH84 Dragon not the DH89 Dragon Rapide.Alan. Yes, Alan...a beautiful aeroplane lovingly restored and now lost through a CFIT incident. There is quite a story to the aircraft and its rebuild, too. Des Porter's father was killed in the aircraft in the 1950's and Des rebuilt it to its former glory over a period of many years. http://www.capricornplanespotting.com/256995793 By the way, the AAAA National Flyin is last weekend in March at Echuca this year and the Auster flyin is at Leeton on the first weekend in March. Kaz 2
Bernie Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 My very first ever flight was in the aircraft at Bankstown, from fading memory 10 shillings was the cost some time in the mid fifties. Thanks for the photo Gandalph. There was also a DC2 on line went in that as well. Bernie. 1
Head in the clouds Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 .....Des Porter's father was killed in the aircraft in the 1950's and Des rebuilt it to its former glory over a period of many years.http://www.capricornplanespotting.com/256995793..... At one stage I heard it that way too but I think it was just a fanciful bit of reporting at the time. The following is from the rather questionable source Wikipedia but as I understand it, it is a more correct version, and indicates that Des's father was killed in another Dragon, a tragic loss either way - At the time of the accident, Riama was one of four airworthy examples of the DH.84 Dragon aircraft in the world. After sitting disassembled in a hangar for many years, the aircraft was restored at Murwillumbah Airport by vintage aircraft specialists Mothcair between 1998 and 2002.[1] The aircraft was purchased by Des Porter, the accident pilot, who learned that parts used in the tail section of the aircraft had been sourced from another Dragon, also named Riama which had been owned by his father but was damaged in a 1952 crash landing at Archerfield Airport near Brisbane. Porter himself had survived another accident in a Dragon at the age of 11 which killed his father and older brother in 1954. The distinctive red biplane had become a popular attraction at airshows and flying events around Australia.[2] It was reported that on the weekend prior to the accident, Porter had raised some $15,000 for a Bundaberg based rescue helicopter service by offering joy-flights in Riama.[3]
yampy Posted January 2, 2015 Posted January 2, 2015 My very first flight was with my Dad , a pleasure flight around Blackpool Tower in the UK in a Jodel , G-ARDZ , however , that's another story .... Getting back to the Dragon Rapide theme , and again many years ago as a 10 yr old , I used to cycle to my local airfield , Halfpenny Green in the UK Midlands and look mesmerised at times at the old Dragon Rapide G-AGJG hauling skywards the parachutists one mission after the other . One day an unfortunate skydiver was. involved in an unusual incident . There was to be a formation drop involving two groups , one launching from a Cessna and the other group launching from the Dragon Rapide flying slighly lower but in close formation . The unfortunate individual mistimed his launch from the Cessna and immedialtely crashed through the upper fuselage of the Dragon Rapide . He is probably one of the very few to take off in one aircraft but land in another ! ... He was luckily only slightly injured . Now back to the Dragon Rapide in question . It fell into disrepair , languished at the airfield for many years before " disappearing " to a location unknown .. Imagine my surprise when I spotted it just a couple of years ago at Duxford in the UK , looking better than ever . What a great job has been done in its restoration . It really was quite an emotional time seeing the old bird again and in such good nick too . It had been about 40 years since I'd seen this lovely airplane and hopefully she will still grace the skies in another 40 .. Here she is in all her glory at Duxford .. 5
Guernsey Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 My very first flight was with my Dad , a pleasure flight around Blackpool Tower in the UK in a Jodel , G-ARDZ , however , that's another story .... That's another story indeed is very interesting because my only flight in a Dh84 Dragon was a joy flight around Blackpool tower whilst on honeymoon back in August 1960. The things we find to do on honeymoon. Lol. Alan.
yampy Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 You'd be interested to know that we spent our honeymoon at the Jersey Air Rally in 1974 , and my best man was and still is a Guernsey man who had dealings with the Guernsey Aero Club ...
Guernsey Posted January 3, 2015 Posted January 3, 2015 Yampy, if you do a google search of the Guernsey Aero Club you will see that I was a founding member so your best man may well know me. I left Guernsey for Australia in 1970. Alan Marriette.
Guernsey Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 Yampy, where are you located and do you fly or have flown. Give us a few details. Alan.
facthunter Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 Keith Hilder had one of these at Aeropelican when he first developed the place in the early 60's. The taper wing was a bit more inclined to drop a wing when slow than the earlier versions. Nev
Yenn Posted January 4, 2015 Posted January 4, 2015 Kaz. You mentioned Riana. That was a lovely plane with a very sad history. It crashed many years ago killing two brothers. Many years later the son of one of the dead brothers got the plane rebuilt at great expense, but then it killed him while returning from Monto to his home base. It was a lovely looking plane and sounded great in the air.
davebutler Posted January 5, 2015 Posted January 5, 2015 I was most fortunate to have flown in Riama. Possibly the best aircraft restoration I have ever seen. Photo taken at the home of Coominya Flight Training, myself, Des, John & unknown 1 1
Guernsey Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 Thanks for posting. A beautiful restoration. Alan.
jeffd Posted January 13, 2015 Posted January 13, 2015 h I was most fortunate to have flown in Riama. Possibly the best aircraft restoration I have ever seen.Photo taken at the home of Coominya Flight Training, myself, Des, John & unknown [ATTACH=full]33431[/ATTACH] hey dave butler i am a student of johns on the day of that aircraft unfortunately crashing my mum who lives at elimbah heard it and went outside and took some some photos of it flying over.i will print this picture out and show john my next flight.that should bring back some memories for him 1
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