RAF HG691

G-AIYR

De Havilland 89A Dragon Rapide c/n 6676 ex HG691

Built by Brush Coachworks Ltd at Loughborough under Contract No: 6/Aircraft/2580/C20a for RAF as a Dominie with serial HG691. Taken on charge 11.12.43 at 18MU Dumfries. To 2 Radio School, Yatesbury 28.12.43 with Unit Code 219. To 5MU Kemble 16.8.45. SOC & Sold 22.11.46 to Reid & Sigrist Ltd., Desford to whom Regd as G-AIYR 11.12.46 CofR No: 11085/1). CofA No: 8830 issued 26.2.48. Used for communications duties. CofA lapsed 15.3.50. Cld 17.3.52. Re-Regd 31.3.52 (CofR No: R.482/2) to Rodney Reuben Carne, Elstree. Cld 14.1.53. Re-Regd 23.1.53 (CofR No: R.482/3) to Hunting Aerosurveys Ltd., Elstree. CofA renewed 13.2.53. Re-Regd (Name) 31.5.60 to Hunting Surveys Ltd., Elstree. Later moved operations to Leavesden. Re-Regd (Name) 4.5.67 to Hunting Surveys & Consultants Ltd., Leavesden. Cld 22.4.71 & Re-Regd 22.7.71 (CofR No: R.482/4) to V H Bellamy, Land’s End/St Just & operated by Westward Airways (Land’s End) Ltd and Land’s End Flying Club. Cld 8.11.78. Re-Regd 10.1.79 (CofR No: G-AIYR/R5) to C David & Cherry A Cyster & D Ivan Rendall and initially based at RAF Valley. Later operated from Shipdham and RAF Coningsby. To commemorate Alan Cobham’s 1925 flight, flown by Fl Lt C D Cyster & Cherry A Cyster (with Ivan Rendall covering PR aspects) from Hatfield (departing 4.7.80) to Cape Town arriving 31.7.80. Following u/c collapse on 16.5.82 it went to BAe Hawarden for repair. Re-Regd 2.10.85 (CofR No: G-AIYR/R6) to C D & C A Cyster and later based at Edinburgh/Turnhouse. CofA lapsed 17.9.88. CofA renewed 11.4.90 and Re-Regd 17.4.91 (CofR No: G-AIYR/7) to Clacton Aero Club (1988) Ltd., Clacton. Named Classic Lady and operated by Classic Wings at Duxford for Pleasure Flights. Re-Regd 24.8.99 (CofR No: G-AIYR/R8) to Fairmont Investments Ltd & Re-Regd 19.9.02 (CofR No: G-AIYR/R9) to Spectrum Leisure Ltd, but still operated by Clacton Aero Club and Classic Wings. During Winter season based at Clacton but otherwise often hangared at the Eastern end at Duxford.