VH-ABU (1)  de Havilland D.H.83 Fox Moth                   (c/n 4047)

                                  
                                    
                                        Clearly a DCA C of A photograph.  VH-ABU was photographed at Maylands aerodrome, Perth
                                        in January 1938 immediately  following assembly after shipment from England ex G-ACCT.    It was
                                        imported by Vivian James who operated as James Taxiplanes Ltd, Perth, mostly for trips to Rottnest
                                        Island and joyriding    . He quickly incurred the wrath of DCA when he regularly carried 4 passengers
                                        on weekend joyrides at Maylands, despite the type being approved for only 3 seats in the cabin.
                                        James ignored the stern reprimands, prompting acrimonious correspondence and a verbal stoush with
                                        the DCA Maylands senior officer.          James landed a body-blow when he objected that his airliner
                                        competitors MMA and Airlines(WA) Ltd used their mail planes for joyrides, while receiving Common-
                                        wealth airmail subsidies for their hours flown!     His Fox Moth was served with a wartime Impressment
                                        Requisition in July 1941 and joined the RAAF as A41-1.  Sold postwar by RAAF disposals, it became
                                        VH-ABU with the Methodist Inland Mission, then to Guinea Air Traders as VH-GAV, crashing at Bulolo
                                        on 25 April 1949.