Dragon Rapide G-AIDL "Delta Lima"

The Millionaire's Flying Yacht

In her RAF colours, Delta Lima represents the de Havilland Dominie, the military version of the Dragon Rapide.  She was built in 1946 by Brush Coachworks at Loughborough against MoS Contract No: 6/Aircraft/5072/C20a with RAF serial TX310. De Havilland took delivery of her at Witney on 7 May 1946, registering her under G-AIDL, the registration she retains to this day.  She was bought by Eric Gandar-Dower for his Allied Airways operation. Gandar-Dower named her The Wanderer, using her primarily as his personal aircraft.  The airline was nationalised and absorbed into BEA, but Gandar-Dower managed to keep Delta Lima as his personal transport until 1950.

Seized by the High Sheriff

Sadly for Gandar-Dower, his much-loved Rapide was now under the eye of the authorities. She was seized in early 1950 by the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire while at de Havilland.  The aircraft, together with a spare engine, was auctioned in April and sold to Goodhew Aviation who put her up for resale. She was purchased in September by Fox's Glacier Mints.

In 1959 she was converted to Dragon Rapide Mk 6 specification, moving to Wolverhampton in 1961 under the ownership of Andrew Flatley. She was re-registered to the Midland Metal Spinning Company in 1962.

In 1967 she took up parachute duties for the Army Parachute Association at Halfpenny Green, joining that unusual group of aircraft that land with fewer passengers than they took off with.  Parachute aircraft tend to be worked hard, and it's a testament to the reliability and strength of the Rapide that she came through the experience unscarred.

By 1977, Delta Lima was looking forward to a well-earned retirement, and she was duly transferred to Southern Joyrides at Biggin Hill, beginning her long career as a pleasure aircraft.  She moved to Caernarfon in 1986, initially working for Snowdon Mountain Aviation, then for Air Caernarfon.

She was bought by Atlantic Air Transport (part of the Air Atlantique Group) in 1995.