The idea behind the Flamingo was to create a short to medium range transport aircraft capable of carrying up to 20 passengers. At that time the aircraft which could have fulfilled this role would have been the famous DH.89 Dragon Rapide, one of which is currently being restored by the Museum. The Rapide is a wooden twin-engined biplane, and only has space for 6 to 8 passengers. The larger DH.86 Express Airliner could carry 10 passengers, but it was also a biplane. The Flamingo broke the mould entirely. It was an all-metal, stress-skin monoplane. It was powered by two Bristol Perseus radial engines, and had split trailing-edge flaps and hydraulically retractable landing gear. The chief designer was Ron Bishop, who later on designed the DH.98 Mosquito, and the famous DH.106 Comet Jet Airliner.