About Getting Back Into The DH84a Dragon Again After 32-Years.

With his customary precision and thoroughness, Des Porter rolled his pristine Dragon bi-plane out of the hangar, carefully swung and locked the wings into position, struts and bracings, bolts, couplings and turnbuckles, avgas, oil, pulled the props through to hear the mag's click, and stood back to admire his shiny red plane in the morning sunlight. "Climb in," he said—almost casually.

The prospect of making first flight in the single-control tail-wheeller twin after all these years, still a dream, took on a new perspective. After all, thirty-two years is thirty-two years.

Months of preparation, the tension of feet pumping spongy rudders, and working elevator and ailerons against finicky elements tugged at my muscles, but this was no longer a dream. I reckoned those testy differential brakes and the roar of propeller steering would not be conquered easily, but the idea of tailup and rotation was still to come. Done it a thousand times—but—so many years ago ...

Like a frisky gelding out of the gate, she lunged forward. At 30kts the blurred runway sneaked closer to the nose as the tail rose, and the thrust of quickening speed pulled the wings toward the treeline. But in a flitter, as the wings imperceptibly accepted the weight, it gently rose perfectly level, cautious for the 65kts climb. Des Porter back there on the intercom, let go with an audible breathe of relief. " We¹re flying."

Now, nothing else mattered.

The approach was a similar adventure. It was hard to tell exactly when those balloon tires rolled along the tarmac. Moments of incredible surprise before fully realising we were back again, mildly kicking rudders for direction, yoke forward. When the tail gently settled, we began the tug for direction again through taxiing, till shutdown.

Flying the Dragon again ...

All the yearnings of the years found their reward in those unforgettable moments.

Then, with musician Adrian Ross on board, we set off on a 31-hour outback Patrol to a score of remote towns, schools and churches. Day after day, the old girl ran perfectly, and we completed the itinerary with a pleasure and satisfaction that few modern-day pilots would understand.

Les Nixon - 5/06

See the patrol & plane pictures in this month¹s news: http://www.outbackpatrol.com.au/news.htm

Remember: 'Don't back out on the outback!'

Opportunity down under Go to our opportunity down under page.

Home Page Back to Outback Patrol's Home Page.

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