Dragon Rapide And Other Dh Beauties

[upnorth]

Hey all:

I just picked up Airfix's repop of Heller's 1/72 DH Dragon Rapide at my LHS and spent a bit of time admiring those classic lines and it got me to thinking about DH aircraft in general and if there was actually ever a design that came from their stable that was truly good and ugly.

I've spent a good chunk of the night gandering at DH aircraft images on the net and, for myself, have yet to find a genuinely aesthetically displeasing design with their name on it.

Needless to say, beyond the Dragon Rapide, there is of course the exquisite Mosquito and its Hornet progeny.

Even today, DH makes beautiful things. The Dash 8 from DH Canada is, to me, one of the most attractive airframes in its category and also generally speaking.

The tri motor Drover that came out of DH Australia was a bit of an oddball, but still not truly ugly.

Is it just me or did they honestly lack the ability to make ugly stuff?

[B777LR]

Dash 7? Excellent performer, but asthetically...

[Maverick]

Have to agree there.  DH have made & make some really good looking ships.  Their pre-WW2 stuff really set the trend for pleasing lines whilst even things like the Beaver and Otter (and Drover) had something that was just right in the overall picture.

Mav

[jcf]

The DH 18 biplane, DH 29 'Doncaster' monoplane and the similar DH 34 biplane are somewhat aesthetically challenged.


DH 18


DH 34

DH 34

Jon  

[AeroplaneDriver]

In my somewhat biased opinion the Dash 8 is just about the best damn aircraft ever to take flight, and the 300s and 400s are certainly pretty, but to me a 100 or 200 on the ground looks a bit ungainly.  The Buffalo and Dash 7 are also a bit short on looks in my opinion.

Still, with the Mosquito, Hornet, Chipmunk, and Comet along with all the other beauties the produced I cant imagine a Top 10 Most Beautiful Aircraft list without at least 1 DH product in it.

[GTX]

In my somewhat biased opinion the Dash 8 is just about the best damn aircraft ever to take flight, and the 300s and 400s are certainly pretty,

SAS might tend to disagree with you there - see http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/...q400-fleet.html

Regards,

Greg

[B777LR]

In my somewhat biased opinion the Dash 8 is just about the best damn aircraft ever to take flight, and the 300s and 400s are certainly pretty,

SAS might tend to disagree with you there - see http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/...q400-fleet.html

Regards,

Greg

Crash-8 Q-400

Ive been scared so much by these accidents, that im afraid of flying SAS now But then again, with such overpriced tickets, who would?

[The Rat]

YO! Don't nobody be dissin' the Dash 7! Yeah, those tail surfaces look a little oversize, but it's necessary for the incredible performance that beast has. Take a look at it on The Dash 7 Home Page, especially the operations out of Courchevel.

I believe I've mentioned this before, but here it is again; I was talking to a pilot at YYZ one day and the conversation came around to the Dash 7. I mentioned that it was one of my favourite aircraft and he replied, "Well, I've heard that they're a bit over-powered." I almost hit him. If the wings aren't peeling off in level flight IT AIN'T OVERPOWERED! If that's the worst you can say about an aircraft then keep quiet.    

[The Rat]

de Havilland Albatross



Gorgeous!      

[kitnut617]

YO! Don't nobody be dissin' the Dash 7! Yeah, those tail surfaces look a little oversize, but it's necessary for the incredible performance that beast has. Take a look at it on The Dash 7 Home Page, especially the operations out of Courchevel.

I believe I've mentioned this before, but here it is again; I was talking to a pilot at YYZ one day and the conversation came around to the Dash 7. I mentioned that it was one of my favourite aircraft and he replied, "Well, I've heard that they're a bit over-powered." I almost hit him. If the wings aren't peeling off in level flight IT AIN'T OVERPOWERED! If that's the worst you can say about an aircraft then keep quiet.  

This is one subject well overdue in 1/72 scale.  Terrific link Rat!

[B777LR]

If the wings aren't peeling off in level flight IT AIN'T OVERPOWERED!

Wings arent peeling off 757s and MD-11s in flight, and they are overpowered aircraft  

[upnorth]

de Havilland Albatross



Gorgeous!    

That's bloody gorgeous Rat!! I had no idea about that plane. Definitely one to want in scale.

If there's one DH aircraft I have a real soft spot for it would be the DHC-6 Twin Otter. I grew up watching 440 Sqn. fly their bright yellow SAR Twotters out of CFB Edmonton and it was the first military aircraft I ever got a ride on. Another nice looking DH product it is too.

[GTX]

Yes, certainly a beauty - in some respects a precursor to the Mosquito (it introduced the ply sandwich fuselage structure later used so successfully for the Mosquito).  I loved the neat engine installation:



It even flew in war colours:




Regards,

Greg

[ysi_maniac]

I do love DH Albatross          

[Radish]

I have this subversive idea (surely not!!) about an Albatross on a stick

Albatross!! Albatross!!!ALBATROSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!