VH-BIF  (2)  de Havilland D.H.89A Dragon Rapide 4               (c/n  6903)

                             

                                  This Rapide had been imported from New Zealand as VH-AWG in 1957.  It was originally RAF
                                  Dominie NR839, civilianized as G-AHGF and exported to New Zealand as ZK-BFK in 1954.
                                  It is seen above at Bankstown in 1961 in this photo by Neville Parnell when it was owned by Merv
                                  Ward of Archerfield, Brisbane, operating as Dominie Airflite.  It was used on low-level agricultural
                                  contracts such as dingo baiting and grass seeding.  The photo below, by David Thollar shows the
                                  old lady derelict at Archerfield in April 1968.    Both images are via the Geoff Goodall collection.
                                  VH-BIF last flew in October 1965 after several years use as a parachuting platform and was then
                                  retired and left out in the weather at Archerfield.   Two months after the lower photo was taken, on
                                  3 June 1968,  VH-BIF was burnt for fire practice by the DCA airport fire service.