de Havilland's first all-metal aircraft - the DH.95 Flamingo

The idea behind the Flamingo was to create a short to medium range transport aircraft capable of carrying up to 20 passengers. At that time the aircraft which could have fulfilled this role would have been the famous DH.89 Dragon Rapide, one of which is currently being restored by the Museum. The Rapide is a wooden twin-engined biplane, and only has space for 6 to 8 passengers. The larger DH.86 Express Airliner could carry 10 passengers, but it was also a biplane. The Flamingo broke the mould entirely. It was an all-metal, stress-skin monoplane. It was powered by two Bristol Perseus radial engines, and had split trailing-edge flaps and hydraulically retractable landing gear. The chief designer was Ron Bishop, who later on designed the DH.98 Mosquito, and the famous DH.106 Comet Jet Airliner.

[@wallabybob3020]

De Havilland never made an aircraft that didn’t look like it wanted to fly.

[@davidryall-flanders6353]

My thoughts exactly.

[@mothmagic1]

They adequately proved the saying "if it looks right it will fly right".

[@bobperrine6193]

A very good and interesting aircraft.

[@lohikarhu734]

Thanks for this 😊
DH has had a great history of building unique, often memorable, aircraft, sad that this early "airliner" was lost to circumstances!
But, many a fine aircraft to follow!

[@user-kg4eb7nl5b]

job done ... this is a bird Ive never seen :)

[@michaelguerin56]

Thank you.

[@downwindchecklist6567]

Fantastic summary of a very much unknown aircraft. Keep up the great work!

[@deHavMuseum]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@peterrollinson-lorimer]

Well done video, and thanks to those who make your museum possible.

[@deHavMuseum]

Thank you too!

[@Yosemite-George-61]

I didn't know... What a beautiful aircraft! Thanks!

[@BassFiddleify]

An interesting Video, as always. What a remarkable, modern looking aircraft with a modern concept. Thanks for that,,all the best and lookin' forward to new vids and stories 👍🍀🛩️

[@deHavMuseum]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@californiadreamin8423]

@@deHavMuseum. Were the drawings and structural/ aerodynamic calculations destroyed ?

[@billevans7936]

Cool

[@grahamharris4941]

Favourite of Lord Alanbrook ,mentioned in his diaries. WSC used to override his preference for use😂

[@rolanddunk5054]

A brilliant video about a great looking aircraft.Thank you.

[@mtacoustic1]

Looks very much like a Douglas DC-5! Meanwhile I'm waiting on some group or individual to build a replica DH 103 Hornet!!

[@lohikarhu734]

I was wondering if you will have a Caribou exhibit? Still flying in places, even turboprop versions, but maybe it's a good time to "capture" a Caribou, while still available in flying condition?
What a tremendous airplane, seems to have seen service almost everywhere, doing almost anything it could be called upon to do!

[@davemacmurchie6982]

The Bou was a DH Canada aircraft though, so maybe not on the programme for these guys? Do they have Beavers and Otters?

[@deHavMuseum]

We have a Chipmunk! The Caribou is a fabulous big beast I don't think we'd have room for one. Pretty rare in the UK too.

[@rodneyelliott5995]

Airspeed Ambassador is surely reminiscent of the Flamingo?

[@user-pl7sf9qm9o]

dH aeroplanes often seem under finned to my eyes especially true of the Vampire and its offspring

[@Roy-gi5ul]

In its general profiles, it is very reminiscent of the Miles Marathon, which also saw RAF use. DerbyAirways operated three of these for a while🎉 in the 1950s❤/60s😂 along with their Dakota fleet. One of these was retired from use with mainspar troubles and used for spares to support the remaining two.

[@smalcolmbrown]

Thanks :)

[@janlindtner305]

👍👍👍

[@FinsburyPhil]

A 25% scaled up DH-95 would have been an excellent British alternative to the C-47 that could have been built in substantial numbers in Canada.

[@allangibson8494]

The DH-95 was a direct competitor to the DC-5 (another forgotten aircraft).

[@FinsburyPhil]

@@allangibson8494 Yes, I'd forgotten the DC-5. Interesting how war can have an affect on requirements - you need a capacity around 30 to drop a platoon in one stick (same for the Horsa glider) and a wide enough fuselage to accommodate a jeep, or a payload capacity to carry a small howitzer. The DH-95/ DC-5 just weren't the right size at the right time. And unlucky that the Albermarle wasn't needed as a bomber and was pressed into service as a light transport/glider tug - a job the DH-95 could have dome well with an engine upgrade.

[@allangibson8494]

@@FinsburyPhil DeHavilland wound up building the DH-98 Mosquito and Douglas the DB-7 / A-20 Havoc/Boston. The DB-7 took over the DC-5 production line and replaced the DC-3 based B-23 Dragon (which replaced the DC-2 based B-18) in production.

[@FinsburyPhil]

@@allangibson8494 Yes capacity was a problem and hence prioritisation. But it's always disappointing to see a good design not fulfil its potential.

[@guidor.4161]

So this would be about 5 years later than the DC-2. How do they compare?

[@Wannes_]

By 1939, the DC-3 was already flying for 4 years

[@kris8742]

So

[@Wannes_]

@@kris8742 DH's efforts came a tad too late ...

[@viking1236]

Surprised you didn’t mention the crash in Great Ouseburn of a Flamingo which killed a Soviet Delegation and the subsequent investigation. Probably some bits still in the Orchard if you dig.

[@radiosnail]

A bit like the DC5. A good aeroplane cut short by World War 2

[@simon-oy6um]

This guy is boring me to tears 😢

[@thunderace4588]

Thank you.