Maurice Rolfe's Rapide VH-UXZ

[Adam the Akrodude]

For the last eight years, I've slowly watched Maurice Rolfe's DH-89A Dragon Rapide come together and it's great news to here it's finally taken to the air after a 45 year sojourn on the ground. My ex-Laser shared Maurice's hangar down at Moorabbin and many times over these last eight years when I've come down for a blast in the Laser, there would be Maurice tinkering away on his Rapide. Maurice also looked after our Laser over this time, so I guess I can claim that some of my hard earned money went into this wonderful machine!

Here's a link to some great photos I've found.

http://ewenbell.com/editorial/Dragon+Rapide+DH89A

There's also a great write up about Maurice's Rapide in this months Flightpath magazine. As I understand it, UXZ now resides up at Tocumwal.

Found this photo on the net of a rather rich engine start!

[Cap'n Wannabe]

Lots of photographers and various other folk around in the weeks leading up to her first flight. I saw a couple of the engine runs, and taxied behind her as she was taxiing out for that flight. She did a few orbits at 2500 feet, and was still airborne when I returned from my sortie.

[Adam the Akrodude]

The hangar looks so empty now - and with KGZ gone too!

[Nillus]

TOP SHOT!