The prototype Dragon Rapide at Hatfield. The light beacon on the far right was placed during this year, 1934. The dome was moved to North Weald in the 1980s but now sits at the entrance of the De Havilland Campus on Mosquito Way, Hatfield. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

A tandem-seat elementary trainer, the S.III served in the Netherlands navy between 1924 and 1938. Photo from: Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie

The Fokker S.IX prototype, portrayed at Schiphol. The Menasco Buccaneer-powered aircraft for the Dutch navy replaced the old S.III trainer. All 15 were destroyed in May 1940. Ryan trainers were then acquired by the navy in the Netherlands East Indies. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

A French DC-2, apparently in Amsterdam. Fokker 'line number' 11. Renault planned a DC-2 version with its engines but after testing of this state-owned aircraft, CEMA more or less rejected the DC-2 as unstable - not without justification. Aircraft probably ended up in Spain. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

Reregistered VH-EBH in 1954 and then EBW in 1958. Became VH-BAA in 1960. Photo from: Whites Aviation Collection/Alexander Turnbull Library

Impressed by the RAAF in 1941 as A34-9. Photo from: State Library of Western Australia

Disposed of in 1958 after 14 years as an instructional airframe. Photo from: Des White/Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Withdrawn from use in 1967 and scrapped the following year. Photo from: National Archives of Australia

Photo is believed to have been taken in North Queensland where A29-625 joined 82 Squadron before being deployed to Papua New Guinea. This photo is from the Northern Territory library and while 82 Squadron had been in the Territory very briefly, A29-625 is shown as being delivered after the squadron moved to North Queensland. The aircraft ended up at Labuan, Borneo, where it was scrapped in January 1946. Photo from: Library and Archives NT

Withdrawn from use in 1964. Photo from: Whites Aviation Collection/Alexander Turnbull Library

Photo from: Whites Aviation Collection/Alexander Turnbull Library

The Farfadet (elf) convertiplane had separate engines driving the propeller and - through compressed air fed to the tips - the rotor for vertical take-off and landing. In horizontal flight the compressor engine was shut down and the aircraft flew as an autogyro with most lift generated by the fixed wing. According to the French Wikipedia, first vertical flight on 29 April 1953 without nose engine; Artouste nose engine fitted summer 1954; first transition to horizontal flight 2 December 1954; speeds of 260 km/h reached; aircraft damaged a few months later and not repaired, by then re-registered F-BBGD. Prototype 02 damaged during ground test and never flown. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

Ex 42-100995. Served with Norwegian air force, DNL, SAS, Fred Olsen, Fairways Rotterdam, Martin's Air Charter, Delta Air Transport, and then with US operators from 1972. Preserved at Kirtland AFB since 1991. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

Shuttled between Antwerp and Amsterdam between 1967 and 1970. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

Evacuated to Australia, to RAAF in August 1942, used as A50-21 until November. Photo from: San Diego Air & Space Museum

To the Civil Aviation Administration as ZK-ASX in 1949 but not flown. Derelict airframe sold for scrap in 1951. Photo from: Whites Aviation Collection/Alexander Turnbull Library

Opened in 1937 as Harewood aerodrome. Used as a RNZAF base in World War II. International air services started in 1950. Since the 1950s Harewood has been an important base for aircraft heading to US bases in Antarctica. The airport is officially Christchurch Airport in line with a move away from using local names. Photo from: Whites Aviation Collection/Alexander Turnbull Library

Crashed at Marsden Point on November 1, 1985. The fuselage is displayed at the Ferrymead Heritage Park, Christchurch. Photo from: Evening Post / Alexander Turnbull Library

Crashed at Loburn North on June 26, 1950. It flew into an escarpment killing all three occupants. Photo from: Whites Aviation Collection/Alexander Turnbull Library

The famous Ascalon which had been Winston Churchill's personal aircraft. Scrapped in the 1950s. Photo from: RNZAF/Air Force Museum of New Zealand