by Nigel Hitchman & James Kightly

The team from AvSpecs Ltd. has just flown de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide ZK-AKU following a multi-year rebuild effort at Ardmore Airport in Auckland, New Zealand. Ryan Southam took the vintage aircraft up for its first post-restoration flight on February  23rd, 2023. Southam is no stranger to the type, having already accumulated many hours in New Zealand’s other airworthy Dragon Rapide (ZK-AKY) and a rare DH.90 Dragonfly.

Dragon Rapide ZK-AKU just after takeoff on her first post-restoration flight at Ardmore, New Zealand. (photo by Nigel Hitchman)

Like most Dragon Rapides, this aircraft rolled off deHavilland’s production line during WWII as a DH.89B Dominie, the type’s military variant. Built to a Royal Air Force contract as HG663, the Royal New Zealand Air Force took her on strength as NZ528 in November, 1943; she served in communications and navigation training roles. Demobbed in 1946, the aircraft underwent conversion into a Dragon Rapide for civilian service with the New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC), registered as ZK-AKU. NAC nicknamed the aircraft Tawaka and flew it on short-haul passenger routes until 1962.

A sister-ship to the subject aircraft of this article, ZK-AKT appears in the NAC livery similar to that which Dragon Rapide ZK-AKU wore at the time this image was captured in September, 1954. ZK-AKT was taken on charge with the RAF as HG674 against Contract No.6/Acft/2580/C20a at 76 MU 10.11.43. Shipped to Auckland, New Zealand aboard the S.S Port Huon from England on December 1st, 1943 and arrived on January 1st, 1944. Taken on charge by the RNZAF as NZ530 at Hobsonville on January 25th 1944. To 42 Squadron RNZAF. Demobbed following WWII and registered ZK-AKT on August 30th, 1946 to New Zealand National Airways Corporation, of Wellington; named “Tareke”. The aircraft was written off on April 15th, 1967 whilst with another operator. (image via Wikimedia)
Dragon Rapide ZK-AKU, as seen at Tauranga on April 1st, 2008, wearing its previous RNZAF livery as NZ528. (photo by Phillip Capper via Wikimedia)

Passing through several subsequent owners, the Dragon Rapide retained its New Zealand registration and even took part in the 1969 London-to-Sydney Air Race – retracing the route of the epic 1919 competition which had seen Vickers Vimy G-EAOU cross the finish line first. Under ownership of the NZ Historic Aircraft Trust, the aircraft returned to its RNZAF colors, but remained on the civil register. Arriving at Ardmore in these colors during September, 2020, ‘AKU’ has undergone a full refurbishment with the world-renowned experts at AvSpecs Ltd., who finished the airframe in a livery reminiscent of its first civil colors. Once the test-flying is complete and the aircraft has received its formal airworthiness sign-off, AvSpecs will pack the DH.89 into a shipping container for the long sea voyage to the USA where it will take up residence with owner Charles Somers’ collection at McClellan airport in Sacramento, California.

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The Dragon Rapide looks magnificent under partly cloudy skies on the ramp outside AvSpecs Ltd’s workshop in Ardmore, New Zealand. (photo by Nigel Hitchman)
Tucked up in AvSpecs Ltd’s hangar following its first flight, Dragon Rapide ZK-AKU undergoes some post-first-flight inspection. Note the cardboard cutout of the late Queen Elizabeth II in the forward passenger cabin window. Furthremore… for the eagle-eyed among you… there is another of deHavilland’s finest, though more muscular, designs under restoration lurking in the background. (photo by Nigel Hitchman)
The cockpit bulkhead features a map depicting the route which this Dragon Rapide flew during the 1969 London-to-Sidney Air Race. (photo by Nigel Hitchman)

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