De Havilland BC DH.89 Dragon Rapide

The De Havilland BC DH.89 Dragon Rapide was an eight passenger piston-engined passenger airliner built by De Havilland British Columbia between 1935 and 1946 based on the DH.89 Dragon Rapide type of DHBC's parent company, De Havilland Aircraft of the United Kingdom.

The Dragon Rapide was the first commercial aircraft built by DHBC to be exported outside of the British Empire.

= Description = To differentiate it from those built in the UK, the British Columbian-built aircraft were designated DH.89C Dragon Rapide. In most respects the they were the same as the British version, but were powered by Hoffar Aero Engines' HIL-6A Hawkmoth-6 engine producing 210 hp.

DH.89D Dominie
Between 1935 and 1938, 32 Dragon Rapides were delivered to the Royal BC Air Force. These were essentially identical to the civilian version, but were designated DH.89D Dominie by the factory. Initially numbered H60 through H91, the RBCAF designated them '''Dominie Mk. I''' and used them in the utility transport and liaison roles, assigned to the 101 and 102 Squadrons. After the outbreak of the Second World War, fourteen were modified for use in the training of navigators and radio operators for bombers and assigned to the Advanced Flying School at RBCAF Prince George. With the introduction of a new serial numbering system in June 1942, the utility variant became the '''Dominie U Mk. I numbered BC64036 through BC64053, whilst the trainer variant became the Dominie T Mk. I''' numbered BC42070 through BC42083. The last of the trainers were retired in 1957, and the utility lasted until 1959; however, they were retired withouth being renumbered into the serial numbering system of September 1958.

= Production =

DH.89C Dragon Rapide

 * BC Government Air Service: 8
 * Central BC Airways: 2
 * Eldorado Radium Silver Express (Canada): 1
 * Ginger Coote Airways: 5
 * Inland Empire Airways (USA): 1
 * Kootenay Airways: 1
 * Mackenzie Air Services: 2
 * Mexicana de Aviación: 3
 * Northern Air Lines: 5
 * Pacific Coastal Airlines: 3
 * Pacific Alaska Airways: 2
 * Peace Airways: 1
 * Port Alberni Airways: 1
 * Queen Charlotte Airways: 4
 * Royal BC Constabulary: 2
 * Servicio Aéreo Colombiano (Colombia): 4
 * Vancouver Island Air Service: 2
 * West Coast Air Services: 6

DH.89D Dominie

 * Royal BC Air Force: 24