The De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide, or simply Rapide, was a British short-haul airliner that dominated the skies in the 1930s. This twin-engine biplane, known for its impressive durability, despite being constructed primarily from wood and fabric, became a workhorse for both passenger and cargo transport. The Rapide offered comfortable seating for 6 to 8 passengers. Powered by two de Havilland Gipsy Six engines, it boasted a respectable cruising speed and a range suitable for regional routes.

Rapides played a major part in opening New Zealand to internal air travel and a number of small regional operators, including Cook Strait Airways, East Coast Airways, Union Airways and West Coast Airways, most of which morphed into NZ National Airways Corporation in 1947, opened up air travel to a large number of regional communities. NAC continued to operate Rapides on regional routes for many years after that.