VH-ABU  de Havilland D.H. 80A Puss Moth   (c/n  2022)

                             

                               Originally imported for Qantas in 1930, this Puss Moth was the former VH-UPA . It was re-registered
                               in 1948 and was a frequent visitor to Moorabbin in the 1950s, where my shot above was taken.    The
                               nice color image below is by Barrie Colledge and was taken at Essendon in 1956.    It was withdrawn
                               from active status shortly after that.   In 1984 it became the subject of a long term restoration project by
                               John Petit in Victoria.    It is now on display at the Hinkler House Memorial Museum (in Bundaberg)
                               painted up to represent CF-APK, the Puss Moth (c/n 2049) in which distinguished aviator Bert Hinkler
                               was attempting to break the record for a flight from England to Australia, which stood at 8 days and 10
                               hours.   On the first day of the flight the Puss Moth crashed into Mount Protomagna in Tuscany.     The
                               wreckage and Hinkler's body were not to be discovered for another 3 months.   Phil Vabre took a shot
                               of it (foot of the page) on a recent (July 2009) visit to the museum.
                        
                            

                              

                              








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