Islanders and visitors were able to step back in time during Jersey International Air Display week by taking a short pleasure flight aboard a 73-year-old de Havilland Dragon Rapide.

The plane, owned by Jersey Aero Club vice-chairman Mike Collett, first flew on 17 April 1934 from the de Havilland factory at Hatfield in Hertfordshire.  The design was initially known as the ‘Dragon Six’ due to its two Gipsy six engines, and the distinctive biplane was the first aircraft to carry a reigning British Monarch.

In 1935 the Ministry of Defence placed an order for a Rapide to carry out coastal reconnaissance work.  The aircraft was fitted with a machine gun in the nose and belly-mounted bomb racks.  A number of these variants saw service in the Spanish Civil War.

Flaps were fitted, along with metal propellers, and in 1939 150 were ordered for the Royal Air Force as a training aircraft, the type then known as the ‘Dominie’.  By July 1946 523 aircraft had been built and had again became popular as a small airliner in many parts of the world.

In Europe both KLM and BEA used them on scheduled services, and the Highland and Islands Air Service in Scotland had the Rapide to thank for starting air operations on a regular scheduled basis to the Shetlands and Orkneys.

Mr Collett’s Rapide was made available for the local flights through his company Air Atlantique Classic Flight and piloted by John Dodd.  Over 200 people took the opportunity to return to a more sedate age of air travel, enjoying fabulous views of Jersey from 1,000ft through the Rapide’s large windows.

This article is an extract from  Jersey Flyer Autumn 2007 (6.43 MB)