I love this old airplane. It had a style second to none.

1930's airliner.

Paul Lamar



Paul --

Well, that aircraft is a de Havilland D.H. Dragon Rapide, which was
first flown (according to what I've picked up) on April 17, 1934 --
almost 80 years ago. Apparently, there were 728 built over a ten-year
 run. Power was from a pair of de Havilland Gypsy Queen engines of
some 200 horsepower each. One of these stylish craft gave a ride to
King Edward VIII in 1936 -- it was the first-ever airplane ride by an
 English monarch. In that same year another Rapide flew General
Francisco Franco when he went to take command of Spanish rebel
forces, and it thus played a (small) part in the Spanish Civil War.

Its maximum speed is given as 157 mph with a range of something over
 500 miles; not a long-distance hot rod. But the view out those big
windows was and is probably terrific.

Just thought you'd like to know. And, you're correct; it does look
great.

Best always --

Fuller
   A book about Spanish aviation history, 'Cronica de la Aviacion
Española'
   by Beatriz Pecker and Carlos Perez-Grange, says that Franco told Hitler
  that he could win the Spanish uprising war if the Nazis gave him just
  12 (twelve) transport airplanes.
   Have a good week, best regards. Salut
             Jose Gros-Aymerich
               Madrid, Spain



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