CLASSIC WINGS

FLIGHT OVER CAMBRIDGE

IN A DRAGON RAPIDE

 

It had been an early start, leaving home at 8 am to arrive at the Imperial War Museum Duxford for 10am. The weather was looking favourable although, on arrival at Duxford, the wind became very gusty and the skies turned an ominous shade of grey. As my wife and I entered the museum, we were doubtful that our 10.45am flight would go ahead!

We were booked on a pleasure flight over Duxford, in a 8 seater De Havilland Dragon Rapide. The Dragon Rapide is a short haul twin engined bi plane, first built in 1934. There were a total of 731 of these planes produced, but, sadly, today there are, reportedly, only 17 airworthy examples still remaining.

My wife and I made our way to the Classic Wings booking office, situated adjacent to the runway. Classic Wings are a family run business who have been operating out of Duxford for the past 25 years, providing pleasure flights to the public. They restore and maintain their own aircraft and offer flights in a Tiger Moth and spitfire, as well as the Dragon Rapide. Pleasure flights range from short flights around Duxford, to flights over Cambridge and London. Flights operate on Weekends and Wednesdays throughout the Summer, weather permitting.

 

 

 

We approached the booking desk and handed in our booking form. The polite and helpful staff informed us that our flight had been cancelled, however, we were being rebooked on a flight at 12.30pm. We were then asked to step on some scales to be weighed, before being registered and asked to return at 12.15pm.

This gave us approximately 2 hours to look at some of the wonderful exhibits that Duxford has to offer, as well as having an early lunch in one of the museum's two restaurants. When we returned to the booking office at 12.15am, the Dragon Rapide was out on a flight, which gave us the opportunity to view it land before our safety briefing. The safety briefing was similar to that which you would get on any aircraft, only, on this occasion, we were informed where the first aid box and fire extinguishers were, as well as being informed about the escape hatches in the roof of the plane.

The wings and body of the Dragon Rapide are covered in a fabric, this means that the escape hatch is formed by pulling a ripcord in the fabric of the roof of the plane, which then allows access through the opening created. Next, all 7 passengers were instructed, for safety reasons, to gather at the rear of the plane prior to boarding, in case the propellers should start up. We were also informed we were only to step on the small, solid, black area on the wing when boarding, reminding passengers that the wings are covered in fabric!

After some posing for photographs, we were boarded. The crew member, mindful of weight distribution, started boarding the passengers (all male, bar my good lady), loading the plane from the rear to the front. My wife and I, being the lightest passengers on this trip, were boarded last and were asked to sit in the front seats. The door to enter the plane is, both, very narrow and low in height, so passengers have to be careful when boarding. The 8 passenger seats on-board are in two single rows with a extremely narrow gangway between the seats. Every seat is a window seat, so affording excellent views for everyone.

My wife and I made our way to our seats, which meant an uphill climb, and a chuckle, due to the inclination of the plane, we then settled into our surprisingly comfortable seats directly behind the cockpit. As we were fastening ourselves into our seats, the pilot boarded the plane and took up his seat directly in front of me. Other than the pilot, my wife and I had the best seats on-board, we could not only see from our own side windows, but also through the cockpit, straight ahead, and through the glass roof above the pilot, it appears there are advantages to being small!

 

 

In no time at all, we were airborne. The weather had decided to be kind to us, the wind had dropped and the sun was now shining. The views, as we took to the sky and headed towards Cambridge, were absolutely wonderful. On reaching the beautiful city of Cambridge  the pilot flew a couple of circuits over the city, banking one way and then the other, ensuring that all passengers on-board got a good view of the city below. Being a small aircraft, you could feel every slight turbulence and hear the propeller engines working away, this really did feel like flying as it should be.

 

 

 

All too soon, our time was up and the pilot headed back to Duxford. After a very smooth landing, we were back on solid ground. Unloading of the aircraft was done in reverse order, so my wife and I were first off the plane, this time grinning as we tackled the decent towards the exit. This had been a wonderful, once in a lifetime experience, one that will remain in our memory forever. Thank you to all the staff at Classic Wings for making this experience possible.

Flights with Classic wings can be purchased on the day at Duxford, depending on availability. However, if you book your flight in advance online, you also get free entry to the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. Following our flight, my wife and I spent the next few hours looking around the extensive museum, we left Duxford having had an absolutely fantastic day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information on Classic Wings, and to book flights, please visit their website at: http://www.classic-wings.co.uk You won't be disappointed!