De Havilland DH 89 A & B Rapide and Dominie NZ 523 to NZ 531 and NZ 555 to NZ559 1939 to 1945

DH 89 B Dominie

Design:
A E Hagg

Company:
De Havilland
Brush Coach Works Ltd

Wing Span:
48 ft 0 in 14.63 M

Wing Area:
641.0 sq ft 59 .55 Sq M

Length:
36 ft 6 in 10.52 M

Height:
10 ft 3 in

Ceiling:
16,700 ft 5,090 M

Range:
578 Miles 930 Km

T/O Weight:
5,500 lb 2,495 Kg

Crew:
1 – 2 Pilot
5 – 8 Passengers

Role:
Nav Trainer
General Reconn
Light Communications

Total Manufactured:
728 All Marks

First Flight:
17 Apr 1934

Armament:
Nil

Qty Served:
14

Years Served:
1939 to 1945

Tail Nos
DH89
NZ 555 to NZ 557 and NZ 559

DH89A
NZ 558

DH89B
NZ 523 to NZ 531

ENGINE

image source

Quantity:
2

Type:
De Havilland Gipsy 6 – 1

6 cylinder, in line, inverted, air cooled

Bore:
4.646 in 118 mm

Stroke:
5.512 in 140 mm

Volume:
560.6 cu in 9.186 L

Compression Ratio:
5.25 : 1

Horse Power:
200 BHP

Max RPM:
2350 RPM

Fuel:
70 octane

Oil:
OMD 370

Length:
62.126 in 1578 mm

Width:
19.9 in 485 mm

Height:
32.4 in 832 mm

Weight:
468 lb

Power to Weight Ratio:
1 : 427 BHP

W/O = Written Off
MOTAT = Museum Of Transport And Technology
BR = Bomber Recon
Sqn = Squadron
A/C = Aircraft

in the hanger at Nausori Fiji

NZ 523

Constructors No.: 6647
Mark: DH 89 B
RAF No.: HG 648
Ex RAF Contracts
Shipped on SS Susex Aug 1943
Assembled by No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville 8 Sep 1943
Shipped to Fiji and reassembled Nov 1943
To Comms flight
To Hobsonville 6 Nov 1945
Sold from 42 Sqn
To NZ NAC 31 Jul 1946
Named Tara
Later renamed Teoteo
Registered ZK – AKS
Struck off charge 25 Jul 1946
To Southern Scenic Airways 11 Sep 1956
Operated by their subsidiary West Coast Airways
Crashed on Mount Soho, Nelson when caught in a
“White Out” while sheep spotting 15 Jun 1965
All 5 on board escaped injury

NZ 524

Constructors No.: 6648
Mark: DH 89 B
RAF No.: HG 649
Ex RAF Contracts
Shipped on SS Sussex Aug 1943
Assembled by No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville 8 Sep 1943
To Central Communications Flight, Rongotai Sep 1943
To 42 Sqn Rongotai 20 Dec 1943
To Fiji Comms Flight 15 Oct 1945
Returned to Auckland on SS Sheafe Holme 22 Aug 1947
Barged to Hobsonville
To General Purpose Flight, Rongotai 22 Aug 1947
To 42 Sqn Ohakea Oct 1947
Sold by Government Stores board tender 17 Dec 1953
Last flight by RNZAF Dominie was
A ferry flight to Christchurch Dec 1953
To Airwork NZ Ltd
Registered ZK – BCP
To Trans Island Airways 25 May 1956
To Coastal Airways 8 Sep to 27 Sep 1958
Ferried to Christchurch Feb 1959
To B Chadwick, Air Charter Ltd, Christchurch 16 Sep 1959
To Southern Scenic Air Services 7 Jul 1964
To Mount Cook Co from 1 Jan 1968
Ownership not transferred until 18 Jul 1973
Retired from Airline service late 1972
To C Tracy & Co, Melbourne 24 Jan 1975
De Registered Exported to Australia 31 Jan 1975
Flown Across the Tasman 19 – 22 Jan 1975
Registered VH – BGP 31 Jan 1975
To J Drage, Wondonga, Victoria 20 May 1975
To City Of Wangaratta, Victoria 3 Apr 1984
To Air World Wangaratta
Offered for sale After closure of Air World
To Bruce Ivers, Western Australia
Shipped to Croydon Aircraft Co, Mandeville, NZ
For restoration to flying condition 2004

NZ 525

Constructors No.: 6653
Mark: DH 89 B
RAF No.: HG 654
Ex RAF Contracts
Shipped to NZ Oct 1943
Assembled by No 1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville 13 Oct 1943
Sold from 42 Sqn
To NZ NAC 30 Aug 1946
Struck Off Charge 2 Sep 1946
Named Tui
Registered ZK - AKY 30 Aug 1946
Operated the Northland Service for NAC
Withdrawn from service 19 Dec 1962
To Ritchie Air Services complete with spares
Cost 1,000.00.00 pound ]$2,000] 18 May 1964
Flown to Christchurch,
Last fight by a NAC Dominie 19 May 1964
To Tourist Air Travel when they took over
Ritchie Air Services 11 Dec 1964
To Mount Cook Airlines when they took over
Tourist Air Travel 1 Jan 1968
To T Williams, Masterton 28 Mar 1978
Major rebuild 1983 – 1985
To Croydon Aircraft Co at Mandeville 1 Feb 1993
To Biplane Adventures, Wanaka 2 Oct 1995
To Croydon Air Services, Mandeville 18 Dec 1997
To Croydon Aircraft Co, Mandeville 14 Feb 2001
Currently Airworthy

NZ 526

Constructors No.: 6654
Mark: DH 89 B
RAF No.: HG 655
Ex RAF Contracts
Shipped to Auckland Oct 1943
Assembled by No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville
B O C Unit 236 Hobsonville 13 Oct 1943
To General Purpose Flight
To 42 Sqn until 1952
Struck Off Charge Apr 1952
Sold to Auckland Aero Club May 1952
Named City Of Auckland
Registered ZK – BAU
To Southern Scenic Air Services
Ownership transferred 1 Mar 1956
A ground loop at Milford Sound broke the A/C back
Written off 22 Apr 1964
Engines and some parts recovered, rest burnt

NZ 527

Constructors No.: 6655
Mark: DH 89 B
RAF No.: HG 656
Ex RAF Contracts
Shipped to Auckland Oct 1943
Assembled by No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville 13 Oct 1943
Sold from 42 Sqn
To NZ NAC 30 Aug 1946
Named Tikaka
Registered ZK – ALB 30 Aug 1946
To Trans Island Airways 22 Jul 1957
To Coastal Airways 13 Aug to 27 Sep 1958
Ferried to Christchurch Feb 1959
To Marlborough Aero Club
To Mount Cook Airlines
Withdrawn from service 4 Nov 1971
Flown across the Tasman 15 Jun 1974
Registered VH – IAN
To C Tracey & Co East Melbourne, Victoria 2 Aug 1974
To K Orrman, Blairgowrie, Victoria 16 Oct 1974
De Registered 4 Jun 1999
Re Registered VH – UTV
To R Fox, Kellyville, NSW 11 Jun 1999
Currently Airworthy

NZ 528

Constructors No.: 6662
Mark: DH 89 B
RAF No.: HG 663
Ex RAF Contracts
Shipped to Auckland Oct 1943
Assembled by No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville
B O C Unit 36 , Hobsonville 22 Nov 1943
Sold from 42 Sqn
To NZ NAC 30 Aug 1946
Named Tawaka
Registered ZK – AKU
Operated the Northland Service for NAC until 19 Dec 1962
To Nelson Aero Club 19 May 1963
To Patchett Safaris, Christchurch 1965
To Rotorua Aero Club 1967
Used by the commercial arm of the club
Rotorua Aerial Charter
To D Gray, Auckland 22 Jul1968
Took part in the London to Sydney Air Race 1969
De Registered 1 Apr 1992
Re Registered
To D Gray, Auckland 12 Oct 1994
Offered for sale early 2003
Currently Airworthy

NZ 529

Constructors No.: 6662
Mark: DH 89 B
RAF No.: HG 665
Ex RAF Contracts
Shipped to Auckland Oct 1943
Assembled by No 1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville 29 Nov 1943
Sold from 42 Sqn
To NZ NAC 30 Aug 1946
Named Tiora
Registered ZK – ALC
As the A/C was being started up at Rotorua
For the return flight to Rukuhia,The Port Engine
Backfired and set fire to the dry grass beneath the A/C
The Pilot and four passengers managed to escape the A/C
But it was destroyed within minutes despite the
Efforts of the ground crew

NZ 530

Constructors No.: 6664
Mark: 89 B
RAF No.: HG 674
Ex RAF Contracts
Shipped to Auckland Oct 1946
Assembled by No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville 25 Jan 1944
Sold from 42 Sqn
To NZ NAC 30 Aug 1946
Named Tareke
Registered ZK – AKT
To West Coast Airways 17 Nov 1956
Double Eng failure, force landed in
Shotover River near Queenstown Airport 17 Nov 1956
Salvageable parts removed, remainder burnt

NZ 531

Contractors No.: 6668
Mark: DH 89 B
RAF No.: HG 669
Ex RAF Contracts
Shipped to Auckland Oct 1943
Assembled by No 1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville 25 Jan 1944
To General Purpose Flight
To 42 Sqn
Declared surplus May 1952
To Airwork N Z Ltd
Registered ZK – BBP
To South Island Airways
Inaugurating their service 24 Feb 1953
Flew it’s last flight with the company 6 Jan 1956
Chartered to Trans Island Airways by Airwork 12 Mar to 14 May 1956
Registered VH – AAG 19 Aug 1958
To Alpine Airways Ltd, Georges Hall, NSW
To R Carswell, Mt Gravatt, Queensland 16 Aug 1960
Struck a Kangaroo while landing at a remote
Airfield near Darwin 1963
Used as a target on RAAF bombing range
De Registered used for target practice by RAAF

NZ 555

Constructors No.: 6334
Mark: DH 89
Shipped to NZ
On SS Tamaroa to Nelson early Oct 1936
Test flown 7 Oct 1936
Registered ZK - AEC
Named Mercury
To Cook Straight Airways 8 Oct 1936
Impressed into RNZAF 15 Oct 1939
Cost 20,500.00.00 pound [$41,000]
Converted to Navigation and Bombing Trainer
Operated by Air Gunners and Observers School, Ohakea
Shipped on SS Kaiwarra to Fiji Oct 1940
Arrived at Lautoka 6 Nov 1940
To Fiji Detatched flight at Nadi
To 4 BR Sqn 8 Oct 1941
To Comms Flight, Nausori 25 Jun 1942
Written off due to Airframe Deterioration
Caused by tropical conditions 19 Sep 1945
Written off 19 Nov 1945

NZ 556

Constructors No.: 6305
Mark: DH 89
Shipped on SS Huntington
Arrived in Auckland 9 Dec 1935
Assembled at Hobsonville
By Air Survey and Transport Co
Test flown 21 – 22 Dec 1935
Registered ZK – AED
Named Venus
To Cook Straight Airways Nelson Base 26 Dec 1935
Commenced operations with a Nelson
To Rongotai flight 0745 on 30 Dec 1935
Impressed into RNZAF 15 Oct 1939
Cost 20,500 .00.0 pound [$41,000]
Converted to Navigation and bombing trainer
Operated by Air Gunners and Observers School, Ohakea
Shipped to Fiji on SS Kaiwarra Oct 1940
Arriving at Lautoka 6 Nov 1940
To Fiji Detatched flight at Nadi
Torn from pickets in a hurricane and
Wrecked at Lautoka 20 Feb 1941

NZ 557

Constructors No.: 6306
Mark: DH 89
Shipped on SS Durham
Arrived at Nelson Feb 1937
Assembled in Airline’s hangers at Stoke
Test flown 18 Feb 1937
Registered ZK – AEW
Named Mars
To Cook Straight Airways Feb 1937
Impressed into RNZAF 15 Oct 1939
Cost 20,500.00.00 pound [$41,000]
Converted to Navigation and Bombing trainer
Operated by Air Gunners and Observers School, Ohakea
Shipped to Fiji on SS Kaiwarra Oct 1940
Arrived at Lautoka 6 Nov 1940
To Fiji Detatched Flight at Nadi
First flight To new airfield at Tonga 15 Mar 1941
Returned to Fiji 17 Mar 1941
To 4 BR Sqn 4 Oct 1941
To Comms Flight, Nausori 25 Jun 1942
Written off due to Airframe deterioration
Due to tropical conditions 4 Jul 1943

NZ 558

Constructors No.: 6423
Mark: DH 89A
Built at Hatfield UK
Issued with UK C of A 19 Sep 1938
Shipped on SS Rangitane
Arriving 16 Nov 1938
Registered ZK – AGT
Named Neptune
To Cook Straight Airways 23 Nov 1938
Test flown 30 Nov 1938
Impressed into RNZAF 15 Oct 1939
Cost 20,500.00.00 pound [$41,000]
Left Nelson for Ohakea 18 Feb 1940
To 42 Sqn
As transport and communication duties until Feb 1944
Sold to Air Travel NZ Ltd
Overhauled and Rebuilt by De Havilland Ltd, Rongotai
Registered ZK – AHS 30 Nov 1944
Operated by them until the company
Was taken over by NZ NAC 1 Nov 1947
Named Huia
Later renamed Mokai
To NZ NAC
To West Coast Airways Jan 1957
To Tourist Air Travel as a
Result of a company take over 1965
To Mount Cook Airlines when
They took over Tourist Air Travel Mar 1967
Retired 1973
To MOTAT NZ’s oldest Airliner

at Hokitika 4 Aug 1937

NZ 559

Constructors No.: 6343
Mark: DH 89
Shipped on S S Tamaroa
Arrived in Auckland 11 Dec 1935
Assembled by Air Survey and Transport Company
Test flown 23 – 24 Dec 1935
Registered ZK – AEE
Delivered to Nelson base 26 Dec 1935
Impressed into RNZAF 15 Oct 1939
Cost 20,500.0.00 pound [$41,000]
Left Nelson for Ohakea 1430 on 15 Oct 1939
Converted for Navigation and Bombing training
Operated by Air Gunners and Observers School Ohakea
Shipped to Fiji on SS Karwarra Oct 1940
Arrived at Lautoka 6 Nov 1940
To Fiji Detached Flight
Torn from pickets and wrecked in a
Hurricane at Lautoka 20 Feb 1941
Written off

Was Mark RNZAF Became

HG 648 DH 89B NZ 523 ZK - AKS
HG 649 DH 89B NZ 524 ZK - BCP VH - BGP
HG 654 DH 89B NZ 525 ZK - AKY
HG 655 DH 89B NZ 526 ZK - BAU
HG 656 DH 89B NZ 527 ZK - ALB VH – IAN
HG 663 DH 89B NZ 528 ZK - AKU
HG 665 DH 89B NZ 529 ZK - ALC
HG 674 DH 89B NZ 530 ZK - AKT
HG 669 DH 89B NZ 531 ZK - BBP VH – AAG

ZK – AEC DH 89 NZ 555 W/O
ZK – AED DH 89 NZ 556 W/O
ZK – AEW DH 89 NZ 557 W/O
ZK – AGT DH 89A NZ 558 ZK – AHS MOTAT
ZK – AEE DH 89 NZ 559 W/O

photos from Ohakea Museum

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner