DH89 Dragon Rapide British European Airways

The De Havilland Dragon Rapide was designed by De Havilland in late 1933 and was intended for use as a British short-haul passenger airliner during the 1930s. Taking its flight in 1934 and entering service with Hillman Airways, the twin engined aircraft with its tapered wings, streamlined fairings, speed and comfort, was probably the most successful British short haul commercial passenger plane of the 1930s. Throughout its life, over 700 were built, a third of which were used by civil airlines, including BEA - the livery which we have chosen for this first release on the newly tooled DH Dragon Rapide. The RAF also made use of them either at the start of WWII, being used for passenger and communications as well as later into the conflict, along with the Royal Navy, where slightly modified Rapides under the name of DH Dominie were involved in radio and navigation training.