De Havilland Dragon Rapide G-AIDL flight - pilots eye view

[@saadinfo6363]

Classic, British aviation at its very best. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful video.... :)

[@stevenleach9522]

My God! What a beautiful aircraft in appearance & sound. As a pilot, I'd have to say the cockpit looks cozy, the view is exemplary, and the instrument panel is shaped perfectly. The aircraft is incredible & nostalgic. As an A&P Mechanic, maintenance has to be a dream come true. For owners who want aircraft longevity & low maintenance costs - fabric covering makes sructural inspections a piece of cake. I wish they'd still make them today. To own one has to be a proud moment. If, I ever purchased one of these aircraft - I'd probably sit in the cockpit all day & all night after the aircraft was in the hangar.

[@jenseninsulation2202]

I remember that persistent steady drone of the two engines. I flew as a boy passenger in Dragon Rapides flown by Borneo Airways - yes over the mountainous jungles of British North Borneo in the 1960s. The seats were woven wicker and being a tailplane you climbed uphill to take your seat prior to takeoff. The fabric construction was so tempting for termites the ground crew had to pile pile insecticide powder around the wheels every night for protection. Pilots were all ex RAF and of heroic appearance to us schoolboys. Borneo Airways was a mix of DC-3s and Rapides and later moved to Twin Pioneers which featured two pilots. This exposure to flying set me up for a pilot cadetship with Qantas in the 1970s - a lifelong dream which was destroyed by call-up papers a week later for service with the Australian army in Vietnam.

[@robinfautley8698]

I had a flight in New Zealand 59 years ago on ZK-BCP. The pilot Brian Chadwick went missing 3 weeks later and still has not been found. I have just posted my fathers video of our flight through the mountains on the Dominie and to see that I can have a flight again in a Dominie fantastic. Thanks for the memory

[@billsticker]

Dragon Rapides are such gorgeous little biplanes.

[@kalengera]

Brings back a lot of memories. Back in the mid 70's, platation Katale in RDCongo owned one that was converted to crop duster. It had 2 big chemical tanks replace the pax seats at the center, left and right of the cabin. It eventually crshed and written off in the later 70's. Had a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the company of this aircraft.

[@davidshrimpton1791]

Thanks for this excellent video. It's seems unbelievable nowadays, but I lived close to Heathrow in the early 1950s and for 5/- (25 pence), you could be taken for a 20 minute flight around West London and back to Heathrow (then known as London Airport). It was as much as I could afford at 12 years of age but an absolute thrill. G-AGJG was the registration.

[@willaimbwr2405]

Holding on to the wing strut , awaiting for your instructor to shout " GO" ! All good memories from 1967 , at APA Centre Netheravon .What a splendid aircraft ,and a pleasant change from jumping out of a Hercules . Thanks for this " All our yesterdays " moment , Best wishes , ex-Para 1962- 77 .

[@petemulhearn7787]

I also took off several times in one of these but never experienced landing in one. RAF Weston-on-the-Green, 1970

[@davidshrimpton1791]

I remember flying in this Dragon Rapide in the 1950s when it was owned by Fox's Glacier Mints Ltd. A great survivor.

[@melvyncox3361]

I have also just recently (last week) flown on this very aircraft.Lovely and thrilling experience!

[@effyleven]

I had a joy flight in Dragon Rapid, when I was a kid. It was about 15 shillings for 15 minutes. It was at the seaside. Margate or Clacton. I can't remember. But I do remember a circular hole in the ceiling of the plane covered in white cloth. Cool air filtered in. It was the ventilation system! You can see it in these cabin shots.

[@thomasm1964]

Also the emergency escape hatch!

[@ManuelGarcia-ww7gj]

Beautiful little airplane!

[@veritasvincit2745]

Isle of Wight 1984. Bembridge. I was 15. Went for a circuit with my holiday money which was all I could afford. £5 a circuit. £15 for a lap of the island. Was told the magnetos were being looked at and to return later which I did. Upon returning I was told that they were only doing island laps and no more £5 flights that day. Walked away glum. Was beckoned back and told to give them my £5 but to keep my mouth shut with the other passengers about it. I sat in the seat looking over the pilot's right shoulder. Made a massive impression on me. Finally got my PPL in 2005 buy no flight as yet has been as exciting as the passenger one in G-AIDL.

[@franckmuller.astruc8981]

Affecting little story...

[@MrDaiseymay]

WOW--this is close to being the best compensation , for missing my flight in one of these gorgeous angels of the sky. (sex with wings) Back 20 years ago, I visited Duxford, and had waited in a queue to buy a trip in a Rapide; but the weather closed right in, with very low cloud, so all flights were postponed for the day. I have not been able to visit that part of Britain since, but maybe this year. Meanwhile, I have this vid to watch over & over, and a excellent good-sized die caste model , to drool over.

[@clearprop]

I flew in G-AIDL from Shoreham in 1994/5 when she was painted green and silver (Caernarfon Airways if I remember correctly). A lovely lady and great to know she's still flying.

[@pjccatalyst]

Agree. A beautiful aircraft and a privilege to be able to fly in her.

[@josecarlos-mc5ix]

I love this airplane.Remember the old time, when flights romantic crossing the skyes. Wonnderfull.. ❤😢

[@richarddyasonihc]

I am a 69 year old pilot (PPL) , I will never fly one of these magnicent aeroplanes, however, I think I shall treat myself and my wife,to a flight as a passenger for my 70th. It always amazes me that should you wish to obtain certification to fly one of these, you would need a lot of experience with flying different aircraft types. There is no dual control in the cockpit, so your first flight is going to be ‘solo’! This is a very well cared for biplane, twin engined tail dragging pre-war aeroplane. I find the Tiger Moth a challenge taxiing and landing (I prefer the rear cockpit). in the air they are a doddle. Anyway -great vIdeo.

[@franckmuller.astruc8981]

Dragon fly done ? (For your 70....;-)

[@michelledauvergne6830]

A delightful flight in a wonderful aircraft !

[@joshuabyrd9166]

I saw one of these planes at McClellan Air Field today and learned that there were less than 1000 built very cool plane

[@motoflyte]

The music makes it seem menacing...like "they didn't know what would happen that fateful day, but they would soon find out...!"

[@ashvindaranasinghe7105]

What a wonderful video it is? Thanks for sharing.😍😍😍👌👌👌

[@tonyjones99]

Fantastic Video!!!

[@NuestraCocinasp]

What a beautiful thing

[@JohnJones-ct9pr]

Not a jealous person by nature but by golly I am insane with jealously over those lucky people in the beautiful aircraft. :)

[@Alexey_Tokarev]

The contrast between well -coil engines perfect (in plan) wings and an archaic bipporean box with counters ... is interesting ...

[@EdwardKelly-vi9sg]

NOTHING BUT AWSOMENESS...❤👍👍💯

[@PaulNurse1]

Wow what a treat for those lucky passengers

[@pedromunueralidon6397]

Tres DH 90 "Dragonfly" y unos diez DH 89 "Dragón Rápide" estuvieron en servicio en la escuela de polimotores de Totana en 1938. La mayoría terminaron en Argelia

[@cliphy88]

I work at an aviation museum in NZ we have the same aircraft on display. Any chance you would allow us to license 1 minute or so of this awesome video? We are doing some educational content for kids. Museum is MOTAT in Auckland, NZ.

[@pjccatalyst]

Sorry. Only just seen this. If it's still needed then no problem at all. Keep up the good work!

[@jonathoneadie-simcock8095]

Beautiful little plane

[@JakesMusicPalace]

Classic beauty, and the lucky guy that gets to fly it🍺

[@8433able]

Beautiful Aeroplane

[@jarjarbinks5673]

I've just been on one of those at the same place (Duxford IWM)

[@fredscratchet1355]

What a beautiful old plane. Call me dumb but I thought there would be a co-pilot.

Thank you so much for this video grateful aircraft a beautiful aircraft! Execuse me for the next question is this is the adaptation from de havilland comet for passengers?

[@DustyCowdog]

Awesome!

[@haraldlenz4860]

A Great Video.. i am a Great Duxford Airshow Fan..

[@pjccatalyst]

Thanks Harald. Lucky to live so near such a great museum.

[@haraldlenz4860]

Paul Crank We have No a Great Airfield in the Background..

[@janangermann6024]

I am the person who is flying the plane

[@pjccatalyst]

Thanks for a very enjoyable flight Jan and a perfect landing!!

[@MrDaiseymay]

YOU LUCKY LUCKY B' ER MAN.

[@todaywefly4370]

jan angermann 😎👌😃

[@normg2242]

Awesome job! Just a quick question if I may - how is this plane for wingtip stalls?

[@Tasha-be4zo]

@@normg2242 hi, im his daughter and he said you will get quite a marked wingdrop to the left at the stall.

[@Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

Obviously the pilot of a Rapide in flight is King of the Earth.

[@MrDaiseymay]

yeah, they should ware a crown--

[@Army4Runner]

Perfect landing!

[@ritchienegrea5779]

Hmm. Nice ride.

[@carot2003]

Nice..

[@n26fe34]

This Biplane is so cool...

[@Allister123456789]

I'd give a metaphorical arm and a leg for a flight in one of these - pat of the history of aviation

[@MrDaiseymay]

but what could any metaphorical person do with those ?

[@thomasm1964]

Get yourself to Duxford Imperial War Museum then! Just off the M11 motorway in Cambridgeshire. It is a lovely little aeroplane to fly in. Done it twice now, .

[@Allister123456789]

@@thomasm1964 Just had a look at their website. Very impressive! Apparently they're closed at the minute due to Covid. (I'm in the 'shielding' category anyway so not going to do any immediate travelling) but thanks for the heads up. Definitely on my list of things I want to do. All being well, I'll maybe get a trip there this summer.

[@thomasm1964]

@@Allister123456789 You're welcome! Let's hope both you and they survive these illogical, interminable and intensely damaging lockdowns!

[@Allister123456789]

@@thomasm1964 Definitely want to do it. I'll give you a heads up when I get there, maybe even my first KZbin video :)

[@spartan963300]

lmao all the passengers look slightly worried

[@MarttiSuomivuori]

We know far too little about the pioneering work that was done and supervised by DeHavillands.

[@EdwardThomas-mn5vd]

Mosquito, s grandad.