deHavilland DH104 Dove

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: deHavilland. Model: DH104. Nickname: Dove
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane ME Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane multi-engine land
> Engine Description: twin piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 6/25/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 1.1
> Number of Times Flown: 2
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: Sea Devon Mk20?

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 117
> Date First Flown: 3/12/2002
> Location First Flown: Mojave, CA Airport (KMHV)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: National Test Pilot School, Greg Lewis

Recollections:
The de Havilland Dove was a “school aircraft” at the National Test Pilot School (a civilian flight test school located at the Mojave, CA airport) when I attended the school for a 6 week “FAA certification testing initial” course.  I felt lucky to have gotten to fly here, with the school’s incredible instructor, Greg Lewis and 5 of my classmates who were sitting in the back collecting data (I probably traded seats with a pilot classmate at one point in the flight, per the usual process at NTPS).  To be honest, I don’t remember much about the airplane on those two flights at the school (other than the cockpit is NOT big) but I do remember coming back 3-4 years later and looking forward to flying this classic piece of British engineering, only to find out that she wasn’t being flown much or at all, due to maintenance issues.  With each recurrent training period (every 3-4 years during my 21 years with FAA Flight Test), the plane was less and less airworthy, and was totally retired, then sitting sadly in the “boneyard” at Mojave.  Thoughts of buying her and restoring her were dashed when I talked to some of the maintenance crews. Still, what a beauty she is.  If only I were a billionaire…this would be in my collection.