Everything Old Is New Again Dragon Patrol November, 2004
		Des Porter's brand-new 72-year-old Dragon
Taxing		Refueling
Left wing view		Caloundra, Qld
Beach run		Right wing view

Flying outback in Des Porter's brand-new 72-year-old Dragon plane is like an English lesson; ‘past-perfect-and-present-tense!' But it should read 'past-tense-present-perfect' instead. It's a beautifully rebuilt airplane, admired by airmen worldwide, and highly respected, almost lusted over by former Dragon pilots.

The plane model was built first in the UK in 1932, making this one 72-years-old at birth. Yet, with modern technology, the plane is much more flyworthy than the originals, and will last considerably longer. In all, nothing has been changed; it's an exact reproduction of the original, but more nearly perfect than them all.

Memories and flash-backs flying in Les's Dragon, VH-SNB in the 60's dust storms, desert droughts, months being away, and the blessing of isolated people coming to Christ, all came flooding back. Harks back to the 70's Richie Gunston and Mel Stevens and Rob Hopkins, and 80's singers and artists who helped build Outback Patrol.
 
Christian teachers who serve in remote schools now were children then, and remember the old plane; they are the parents and grand-parents now.
 
So, as the Scriptures say, 'Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none like me!' (Isa. 46:9). He has a remarkable faculty of making old things new again; people as in II Cor. 5:17.

The team on patrol now includes Des Porter, Les Nixon, Peter Moss and Garry Thompson. The Dragon will fly for events, schools and meetings just like the Nixons did 40-years ago—to St. George, Cunnamulla, Eulo, Thargomindah, Quilpie, Eromanga, Windorah, Birdsville, Alice Springs, Yulara Ayers Rock, Oodnadatta, William Creek, Marree, Roxby, Coober Pedy, Andamooka, Hawker, Broken Hill, Wanaaring and Louth.

To see other Dragons go to:

	Des Porter's brand-new 73 year-old De Havilland Dragon bi-plane maiden outback flight. He flew an Outback Patrol.
	Back in the Dragon after 32 years.
	Here's an account of the early life of Les Nixon's Dragon from 1944 till it came to him in 1961. After 1961 look for A34-13, 2002. That was Les Nixon's in it's former lifetime.
	A 1953 Flying Doctor pilot did not like the Dragon
	For lots of great pictures.
	Read how England's famous flying P.I. "Biggles" flew a Dragon through Africa in the 1930's in search for adventure and to track down a another flying detective, dead or alive.
	Museum of Flight, East Fortune – De Havilland D.H.84 Dragon
	Luftfahrt Museum – photo