Operational Service
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, during World War II the DH.84 was put back into production at Bankstown, Australia as a navigational trainer for the RAAF, being preferred to the Rapide because its smaller engines were then being manufactured locally for De Havilland Tiger Moth production. A further 87 were built, for a total of 202 produced.
A new four-seat Dragon was delivered in 1933 to the Royal Flight for user by the Prince of Wales. It was sold in 1935. It was later impressed 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 aviatrix) 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 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.
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 Ayling and Reid flew Seafarer II from Canada to Heston Aerodrome, an airfield located to the west of London, in Middlesex, UK in 30 hours 50 minutes to make the first non-stop flight between the Canadian mainland and Britain. The inaugural service of the Irish Airline Aer Lingus was provided by a DH.84 Dragon, registration EI-ABI, named Iolar, which means "Eagle" in the Gaelic Irish language. For the 50th anniversary of the airline in 1986, a replacement Dragon was acquired, restored, renumbered (EI-ABI) and repainted as the Iolar.
Following the War, surviving DH.84s passed into commercial service, but only three are still flying today.
Read more about this topic: De Havilland Dragon
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