de Havilland (australia) DHA-3 drover
De Havilland (Australia) identified the need for a replacement for the pre WW2 DH-84 Dragon, and in 1946 designed a three engined low wing monoplane using the DH-104 Dove as a basis with a fixed tail wheel undercarriage, carrying 6-8 passengers with a single pilot, and named Drover.
The first DHA-3 Mk1 flew on January 23 1948 and entered service in 1952. Problems soon emerged, lack of performance, instability in flight and DH propeller failures. Modifications that addressed these problems were made and each led to a change of variant designation to the final Mk3b. Twenty machines were built and operated by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), Qantas, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) and the Australian Department of Health, among others.
The Museum's DH-3 Drover, VH-AZS, a Mk2, was built in 1952 and was in storage until going to the Northern Territory Medical Service (NTMS) in 1955. On retirement there in 1961, it went to TAA until retired in August 1969. It was then used by several smaller operators until going to Joe Drage's Museum in Wodonga, Victoria in May 1976, remaining there until sold at auction in November 1996. After further changes of ownership it came to the Museum, donated by Mr Glen Ackman in July 2013, and has subsequently been restored and currently is on display.
TECHNICAL DATA
Crew ; 1 pilot
Power plant : 3 x 145hp de Havilland Gipsy Major 10Mk2, 4 cylinder inverted inline engines.
Length : 36'08'' (11.2m) Wingspan : 56'09'' (17.3m) Height : 9'10'' (3.0m)
Weights : empty - 4,100lbs (1,860kg) maximum - 6,500lbs (2,948kg)
Speeds : maximum - 117kt (140mph) (225km/hr) cruise - 104kt (125mph) (201km/hr)
Range : 500 miles (805km)
The first DHA-3 Mk1 flew on January 23 1948 and entered service in 1952. Problems soon emerged, lack of performance, instability in flight and DH propeller failures. Modifications that addressed these problems were made and each led to a change of variant designation to the final Mk3b. Twenty machines were built and operated by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), Qantas, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) and the Australian Department of Health, among others.
The Museum's DH-3 Drover, VH-AZS, a Mk2, was built in 1952 and was in storage until going to the Northern Territory Medical Service (NTMS) in 1955. On retirement there in 1961, it went to TAA until retired in August 1969. It was then used by several smaller operators until going to Joe Drage's Museum in Wodonga, Victoria in May 1976, remaining there until sold at auction in November 1996. After further changes of ownership it came to the Museum, donated by Mr Glen Ackman in July 2013, and has subsequently been restored and currently is on display.
TECHNICAL DATA
Crew ; 1 pilot
Power plant : 3 x 145hp de Havilland Gipsy Major 10Mk2, 4 cylinder inverted inline engines.
Length : 36'08'' (11.2m) Wingspan : 56'09'' (17.3m) Height : 9'10'' (3.0m)
Weights : empty - 4,100lbs (1,860kg) maximum - 6,500lbs (2,948kg)
Speeds : maximum - 117kt (140mph) (225km/hr) cruise - 104kt (125mph) (201km/hr)
Range : 500 miles (805km)