A popular passenger plane that was in widspread use worldwide in the 1930's and 1940's, the Rapide found its way to Mandatory Palestine as well. The chief civilian airliners that operated in Palestine then - 'Netivei Avir Eretz-Yisrael' and 'Aviron' - each operated a Rapide.
When the War of Independence came, these two planes were taken into military service and served the IAF on transport, supply and bombing assignments. Later on, five additional Rapides joined the ranks of the IAF.
They were retired from service in 1957.