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de Havilland DH.84 Dragon



87 were licence-built during 1935-38 for the RAAF for the transport and training roles. The majority were fitted for navigation and wireless operator training. In addition 65 were built up until 1940 for civil operators, including Qantas, Trans-Australian Airlines and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Crew: one, pilot
Capacity: 6–10 passengers or an instructor and three pupils
Length: 34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
Wingspan: 47 ft 4 in (14.43 m)
Height: 10 ft 1 in (3.07 m)
Wing area: 376 ft² (34.9 m²)
Empty weight: 2,300 lb (1,045 kg)
Loaded weight: 4,200 lb (1,909 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × de Havilland Gipsy Major 1 4-cylinder air-cooled inverted inline, 130 hp (97 kW) each
Performance

Maximum speed: 128 mph (111 knots, 206 km/h)
Cruise speed: 109 mph (95 knots, 167 km/h)
Range: 460 mi (400 nmi, 740 km)
Service ceiling: 12,500 ft (3,800 m)
Rate of climb: 612 ft/min (3.1 m/s)

Design work on the DHA-3 began in 1943 after DHA identified a need to replace the de Havilland Dragon biplane then in widespread use in Australia. Although the British parent company's Dove was being produced at the same time, DHA saw that the Dove was not entirely suitable for Australian conditions. Using the Dove as a starting point, DHA designed an aircraft with three four-cylinder Gipsy Major engines instead of the Dove's two Gipsy Queen six-cylinder engines and a fixed tailwheel undercarriage instead of the Dove's retractable tricycle undercarriage. Like the Dove the DHA-3 was sized to carry 8 to 9 passengers with a single pilot.

The result was an aircraft with the same wingspan as the Dove and a slightly shorter fuselage. The name 'Drover' was selected by Sir Geoffrey de Havilland after suggestions for a name were invited from DHA employees. Thomas King from the Drawing Office came up with the winning name. The first DHA-3 Mk. 1 Drover took to the air at Bankstown Airport on 23 January 1945 piloted by Brian (Black Jack) Walker, DHA's chief test pilot. The aircraft was subsequently flown by Walker to Melbourne for trials by the Australian Department of Civil Aviation, a flight of 460 miles, achieving 140 mph and a fuel consumption of approximately 22 gallons per-hour. During trials a single-engine rate-of-climb of 240 feet per-minute at sea level was obtained. The second aircraft flew during December 1945. One improvement to recent aircraft to improve lift has seen the wing modified with double slotted flaps in place of plain flaps as the DHA-3 Mk. 2.

24 were built for RAAF in the utility transport role and 40 so far for civilian operators including Qantas, Trans Australia Airlines and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.


Crew: 1
Capacity: 8-9 passengers
Length: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m)
Wingspan: 57 ft 0 in (17.39 m)
Height: 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
Wing area: 325 sq ft (30.23 m²)
Empty weight: 4,000 lb (1,815 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 6,500 lb (2,950 kg)
Powerplant: 3 × de Havilland Gipsy Major Mk-10 4-cylinder inverted inline engine, 145 hp (108 kW) each
Maximum speed: 137 knots (157 mph, 253 km/h)
Cruise speed: 108 knots (125 mph, 201.4 km/h)
Range: 890 miles (780 nm, 1450 km)
Rate of climb: 800ft/min (4.06m/s)
Wing loading: 20 lb/ft² (97.59 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.067 hp/lb (109.83 W/kg)

30 were acquired during 1948 for the RAAF and 12 for the RNZAF. Several of the RAAF examples have been fitted with fully Arcticised equipment for use with the Antarctic Support Flight.

Crew: 1
Capacity: 6 passengers, 2,100 lb (953 kg) useful load
Length: 30 ft 3 in (9.22 m)
Wingspan: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m)
Height: 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)
Wing area: 250 ft2 (23.2 m2)
Empty weight: 3,000 lb (1,361 kg)
Gross weight: 5,100 lb (2,313 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Jr. radial engine, 450 hp (336 kW)
Maximum speed: 158 mph (255 km/h)
Cruise speed: 143 mph (230 km/h)
Range: 455 miles (732 km)
Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,486 m)
Rate of climb: 1,020 ft/min (5.2 m/s)

Military version of the BCAC Type 170 Freighter developed during 1944 for the RAF. 12 were brought by the RAAF and 12 by the RNZAF during 1945 and delivered in 1946.

Crew: two
Length: 73 ft 4 in (22.4 m)
Wingspan: 108 ft 0 in (32.92 m)
Height: 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m)
Wing area: 1487 ft2 (138.13 m2)
Empty weight: 29,950 lb (13,404 kg)
Gross weight: 44,000 lb (19,958 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Bristol Hercules XXII 14-cylinder sleeve-valve radial piston engine, 1,770 hp (1,319 kW) each
Performance

Maximum speed: 198 mph (318 km/h)
Range: 490 miles (788 km)
Service ceiling: 21,000 ft (6,400 m)

In 1946 the RAAF brought six Douglas C-54B transports from the USA as long-range personnel transports, mainly for the trooping role but also capable of delivering freight with the seats removed.

Crew: four
Capacity: 50 troops
Length: 93 ft 10 in (28.6 m)
Wingspan: 117 ft 6 in (35.8 m)
Height: 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
Wing area: 1,460 ft² (136 m²)
Empty weight: 38,930 lb (17,660 kg)
Loaded weight: 62,000 lb (28,000 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 73,000 lb (33,000 kg)
Powerplant: 4 × Pratt & Whitney R-2000-9 radial engines, 1,450 hp (1,080 kW) each
Maximum speed: 275 mph (239 kn, 442 km/h)
Cruise speed: 190 mph (165 kn, 310 km/h)
Range: 4,000 mi (6,400 km, 3475 nmi)
Service ceiling: 22,300 ft (6,800 m)
Wing loading: 42.5 lb/ft² (207 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.094 hp/lb (160 W/kg)

Around 1947 the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation began a design study for a regional airliner to replace older aircraft acquired by the airlines during the 1930s. The Wallaby is offered in a 17-15 seat airline version and a 6-7 seat Executive version. The design ethos was on reliability and rugged operation from small airstrips and the unit price of the Wallaby is £65,000. The first of two prototypes was first flown in September 1949 after a 1948 launch order for 20 from Trans Australian Airlines, Papua New Guinea Airlines then followed with a modest order for 6 aircraft. Following certification in August 1950, deliveries began.

Crew: Two
Passengers: 17-15 (airliner); 6-7 (executive aircraft)
Length: 44 ft 6 in (13.56 m)
Wingspan: 64 ft 0 in (19.5 m)
Height: 18 ft 6 in (5.63 m)
Wing area: 435 ft² (40.41 m²)
Empty weight: 7,680 lb (3,483 kg)
Loaded weight: 11,700 lb (5,307 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-19F Wasp radial engine, 600 hp (447 kW) each
Maximum speed: 204 mph (324 km/h)
Cruise speed: 190 mph (305 km/h)
Range: 1,553 mi (2,500 km)
Service ceiling: 24,000 ft (7,315 m)
Rate of climb: 1,200 ft/min (6.09 m/s)