TF-ISM de Havilland D.H.89A Dragon Rapide
(c/n 6670)
Another cropped image from Flugfelag
Islands. Since the other Rapide operated by the
airline,
TF-ISO, was lost in 1945
it can be surmised that the above shot depicts TF-ISM (the same
air-
craft as is in the
background on
the shot for TF-ISK). The Rapides were
used by the airline on
local
inter-island services in the 1940s, and also as herring
spotters. TF-ISM was the former
RAF Dominie HG671 built by
Brush, although it evidently saw little service duty. Is was not
uncommon for fabric covered
aircraft such as the D.H.89A to catch fire
whilst starting. Hence
the precaution of
having the bloke with the fire extinguisher. For modellers,
correspondent Olafur
Sigurdsson in Iceland
reports that the original livery was bright red with large white
surrounded
letters and no cheat
lines. The livery shown above came much later.