Wednesday 27 January 2010

Not ZK, but still of interest....

Outside at Ardmore today, 27Jan, undergoing engine runs was this magnificant De Havilland DH89 Rapide, G-ADDD.

Thanks to Anon, we now know the original G-ADDD was owned by the Prince of Wales from mid 1935 and absorbed into the newly-created Kings Flight in July 1936. It was replaced by an Airspeed Envoy in 1937 and bought by Western Airways in Nov 1938 before moving to the RAF.

This particular airframe is c/n 6782 ex NR683, G-AHXW and N683DH restored as "G-ADDD".

4 comments:

  1. Dragon Rapide G-ADDD was owned by the Prince of Wales from mid-1935 and absorbed into the newly-created King's Flight in July 1936. It was replaced by an Airspeed Envoy in 1937 and bought by Western Airways Ltd for £3,345 Nov38.
    Impressed into RAF as AW116.

    Your pic is DH89B c/n 6782 ex NR683 G-AHXW and N683DH restored as 'G-ADDD'

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  2. G-AHXW used for thie restoration was purchased by Airwork (Precise Surveys Limited, Worcetsre) and worked in the aerial survey business until around 1971 when she was replaced with a Dove G-AOSE purchased from Smiths Aviation.
    This fine old lady has outlived the Dove which was scrapped in Coventry in the late 70's.
    In her role as a survey aircraft she flew to produce the initial photogrametirc imagess for projects across the UK. Projects included the M5, M62 and M42 Motorways, Seaforth Docks at Liverpool, Skipton Reservoir and many more civil engineering projects.
    It is fitting that this old lady has been restored as G-ADDD

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  3. G-AJHO was briefly painted as G-ADDD not G-AHXW.

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  4. This site is very inaccurate.

    G-AHXW was never painted as "G-ADDD".which as N683DH was cancelled as sold to USA in 1971 & recently rest. again in Calif.
    G-AJHO as "G-ADDD" crashed & burnt out 31-03-1989 not leaving enough to be rest in N Zealand.

    You should have this infomation!

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