Assembly model 1:48 biplane DH.89 Dragon Rapide Armory AR48005

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide is a short-haul biplane aircraft of the 1930s, designed and manufactured by the British aircraft company de Havilland. Able to accommodate 6-8 passengers, it proved to be economical and durable despite its dated plywood construction. Developed in the early 1930s, the Dragon Rapide was essentially a smaller twin-engined version of the four-engined DH.86 Express and shared a number of common features, such as tapered wings, streamlined fairings and Gipsy Six engines. Originally named the "Dragon Six", the type was marketed as the "Dragon Rapide" and later known simply as the "Rapide". Since its introduction in the summer of 1934, it has proved a popular aircraft with both airlines and private civilian operators, achieving significant overseas sales in addition to domestic use. With the outbreak of World War II, many civilian Rapides were adopted by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Navy. Called de Havilland Dominie in military service, the type was used for radio and navigation training, passenger transport and communications. British training aircraft were named after educational associations, and dominoes is a Scottish term for a schoolmaster. Hundreds of additional domains were also built during the war. Other Rapides continued to be operated by British airlines throughout the war under the auspices of the Associated Airways Joint Committee (AAJC). After the war, many military aircraft were returned to civilian service. Shortly after the end of World War II, de Havilland introduced a replacement for the Dragon Rapide, the de Havilland Dove.