VH-UOJ  Genairco Cabin                             (c/n  18)

                               
                                  
                                        The above shot, from the John Hopton collection, shows the Cabin Genairco at Mascot in its
                                        original configuration.   It had been rebuilt from an Open Biplane and was the prototype of the
                                        Cabin Model.   Later, in 1933 -UOJ along with the Genairco Open Biplane VH-UOH  it was
                                        operated by the original Fiji Airways from Suva in 1933.       The photo immediately below,
                                        from the Geoff Goodall collection shows -UOJ at Suva just after it had been fitted with floats.
                                        It eventually became VQ-FAD when Fiji was assigned its own registration series.   Both Gen-
                                        aircos were shipped out from Sydney to Suva, Fiji on the SS Aorangi, departing 2 Feb 1933.
                                        General Aircraft Co's J.G. Boehm accompanied them, to assemble the aircraft and fit their
                                        floats   At the foot of the page are three historic sepia prints (I shall leave them that way) from
                                        the Ron and Rae Boon collection, kindly submitted by Greg Weir of Queensland    They show
                                        (left) George Boehm of the General Aircraft Co Ltd of Mascot shaking hands with none other
                                        than R.A. (Rab) Butler.  The inscription on the back of that photo states;  "A Butler record holder
                                        from England, congratulates me in the flying qualities of my new aeroplane". (Signed George).
                                        The final image shows VH-UOJ just after it left the factory before the application of its identity. 
                                        The inscription on the reverse of that print, in the handwriting of Boehm, indicates that this is his
                                        "latest bus", and makes reference to the earlier Open Biplane.  VH-UOJ was restored to the
                                        Australian register in 1938 as VH-UUK