Called up for wartime service, the Rapide became the hard-working Dominie crew trainer. Ken Ellis describes its new career
Well known in the circuit at Duxford, Classic Wings’ G-AIYR wears post-war RAF colours with yellow ‘trainer’ bands and its military serial, HG691.
DARREN HARBAR
From the outset it looked like an uneven struggle, but both competitors for Air Ministry Specification G18/35 arrived for evaluation on April 13, 1935. Aircrew at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Martlesham Heath, Suffolk and the newly formed Coast Defence Development Unit at Go sport, Hampshire would make the recommendations.
