De Havilland DH89 Dragon Rapide
First built in 1934. This biplane was Britain’s first successful pre-war short-haul airliner.
About 700 were produced, mainly during WW2 when, as Dominies, they served with the RAF as wireless training and communications aircraft. A large number of ex-military Dominies were sold after the war to private owners, including EAAC who operated 14 different aircraft. The last one to enter service as late as 1955 (VP-KNS). They lasted until the 1960s. A few preserved examples are still airworthy around the world and take passengers on pleasure flights.
| Registration | Aircraft | c/n | Previous | Acquired | Disposal | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VP-KCJ | DH89-Dragon Rapide | 6366 | VP-KCJ | 1946/1955 | 1948/1960 | Ex-Wilson Airways. Sold 1948 Re-purchased 1955. Sold to Caspair 1960. W/O Entebbe 7/10/62 |
| VP-KCT | DH89-Dragon Rapide | 6803 | NR715, G-AGNH | 1945 | 1949 | Restored as G-AGNH 17/8/49 for Civil Air Attache, Baghdad. Then sold as VR-AAP |
| VP-KCU | DH89-Dragon Rapide | 6848 | NR772, G-AGOX | 1945 | 1946 | W/O near Garsen 26/6/46 |
| VP-KCV | DH89-Dragon Rapide | 6849 | NR773, G-AGOW | 1945 | 1956 | Sold 1951 to Caspair. Restored as G-AGOW 1956. Cancelled 1957 |
| VP-KCW | DH89-Dragon Rapide | 6875 | NR799, G-AGOU | 1945 | 1955 | Sold to Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners 9/49. Sold 11/55 as VP-YNN |
| VP-KCX | DH89-Dragon Rapide | 6876 | NR800, G-AGOT | 1945 | 1948 | Sold to Jivraj’s Air Services 18/10/48. Scrapped 1950 |
| VP-KCY | DH89-Dragon Rapide | 6874 | NR798, G-AGOV | 1945/1953 | 1951/1960 | Sold to Noon & Pearce Air Charters 8/51. Re-purchased 6/53. Sold 1960 |
| VP-KEA | DH89-Dragon Rapide | 6890 | NR814, PH-RAA | 1947 | 1954 | W/O 23/1/54 |
| VP-KEB | DH89-Dragon Rapide | 6891 | NR815, PH-RAB | 1947 | 1951 | W/O after landing accident at Kasese 15/10/51 |
| VP-KEC | DH89-Dragon Rapide | 6893 | NR829, PH-RAC | 1947 | 1950 | W/O after accident at Mafia 12/5/50 |
| VP-KED | DH89-Dragon Rapide | 6895 | NR831, PH-RAD | 1947 | 1951 | Sold to Arkia, Israel 1951 as 4X-AEH.W/o 2/07/54 Tel Aviv. |
| VP-KEE | DH89-Dragon Rapide | 6896 | X7323, G-AJFM | 1947 | 1951 | Sold to Israel 1951 as 4X-AEI. Then to UK as G-ADYL in 1955. Scrapped at Luton 1964? |
| VP-KEF | DH89-Dragon Rapide | 6831 | NR743, PH-RAF | 1947 | 1960 | Transferred to SKAT 1960. later 5H-AAN |
| VP-KNS | DH89-Dragon Rapide | 6492 | R5964,G-AKOS | 1955 | 1960 | Transferred to SKAT 1960. later 5H-AAM |
Aircraft registered in Tanzania after 1963
| Registration | Aircraft | c/n | Previous | Acquired | Disposal | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5H-AAM | DH89-Dragon Rapide | 6492 | see VP-KNS | 1955 | 1966 | Registered to SKAT. Burnt out at Dar-es-Salaam 13/9/66 |
| 5H-AAN | DH89-Dragon Rapide | 6831 | see VP-KEF | 1947 | 1967 | Registered to SKAT. Sold to A.D. Aviation, Nairobi, 1967. |