During the Great Depression, many companies were forced to take relatives on the payroll. DeHavilland's was no different. Sir Geoffrey hired his three half-brothers, Devon, Delton and Derwin, the DeHavilland triplets.
At first they were given minor jobs, such as remodeling the employee restrooms. Despite the DeHavilland triplets' penchant for doing things in threes, their work seemed up to Standard.
However, as the project progressed, trouble loomed.
Fortunately for the staff at DeHavilland's things were eventually put right.
So it was with some trepidation that Sir Geoffrey assigned Devon, Delton and Derwin the job of designing DeHavilland's entry in the 1936 international air race.
After winning the 1934 race, expectations ran high. The triplets knew that a tri-motor would offer both the safety and range necessary. Their design was indeed ground-breaking.
Thus the DeHavilland Tripteroid was born. It soon received an air-worthiness certificate and a civil registration.
DeHavilland's was not mollified by reassurances from the Air Board that the CRAP in G-CRAP was short for Custom Racing Aero Plane.
The incredibly innovative design caused great excitement. It was featured in newspapers and newsreels of the day touted as being the cutting-edge in aeronautics.
The DeHavilland triplets were hailed as geniuses.
Oh and the air race? The DeHavilland entry finished third, of course.
Brian da Basher
