The de Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly was a 1930s British twin-engined luxury touring biplane built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company at Hatfield Aerodrome. It shares a clear family resemblance with the Dragon Rapide but is smaller, with a higher aspect ratio and slightly swept-back wings, and a new preformed plywood monocoque shell and strengthened fuselage borrowed from the Comet racer construction. It was designed for four passengers and a pilot, with provision for dual controls, and was expensive to buy at 2,650 pounds; in modern terms it was an executive transport for wealthy private owners and their companies. The first aircraft flew on 12 August 1935 and the first delivery was made in May 1936. About 36 new-build Dragonflies went to private and company owners, about 15 to airlines and air taxis and three to flying clubs, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had four to combat rum-runners. Production ended in 1938.
Facts
Engine Class Top Speed (km/h) Maximum Mass (kg) Enginede Havilland Gipsy Major II 4-cylinder inverted air-cooled in-line 1 Comparison
Body StyleAircraft (no road body style) 1 Connections
Exemplifies
Source De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly (Wikipedia)
Of Make
Source De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly (Wikipedia)
Development
The first aircraft, G-ADNA, first flew on 12 August 1935
Specifications, powerplant
Powerplant: 2 × de Havilland Gipsy Major II 4-cylinder inverted air-cooled in-line piston engines, 142 hp (106 kW) each
Specifications, empty weight
Empty weight: 2,500 lb (1,134 kg)
Specifications, maximum weight
Gross weight: 4,000 lb (1,814 kg)
Specifications, maximum speed
Maximum speed: 144 mph (232 km/h, 125 kn)
Lead
The de Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly is a 1930s British twin-engined luxury touring biplane built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company at Hatfield Aerodrome.
Lead, manufacturer
built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company at Hatfield Aerodrome
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