VH-ABL (3)  de Havilland D.H.82A Tiger Moth               (c/n  82259)

                             
                                        
                                   This was formerly Super Spread's VH-SSP.  It was built as a RAF Tiger Moth and was one of
                                   those which served with the RAAF but retained its British serial.    Civilianized in 1948, it first be-
                                   came VH-BND before being sold to Super Spread in 1955.   Super Spread sold -SSP to Air
                                   Mist Pty Ltd of Launceston in Sept 1958.    Air Mist also had bases at Moorabbin and Parafield
                                   and -SSP was retired under the DCA agricultural Tiger fleet reduction program and dismantled in
                                   Air Mist's Parafield hangar, being struck-off the register in March 1964.   It came back on in Aug
                                   1969 as VH-ABL, rebuilt by John Jansson of Melbourne and was a regular at the 1970s airshows
                                   in a blue & white paint job.  John Hopton took the above photo at Moorabbin in 1970.  The con-
                                   temporary shot below was taken by Phil Vabre at the 2008 Temora, NSW Air Pageant. The dash
                                   in the serial number is non standard, but may have been present in its original RAAF days, although
                                   frankly I doubt it.  .