VH-UVS  de Havilland D.H.89 Dragon Rapide          (c/n  6265)

                              

                                    VH-UVS was imported new in March of 1935 for the Shell Company of Australia, and named
                                    'Spirit of Shell'.  It was leased for periods of time to Airlines of Australia.  The photograph above
                                    was taken at Mascot in 1937, while the one immediately below shows it Mayland, Perth in 1935
                                    in its original color scheme.  The next photo is from the CAHS archives - date and venue unknown.
                                    VH-UVS was destroyed by fire at Mascot on 12 May 1937 when its fabric caught alight after an
                                    engine backfire on startup on a scheduled Airlines of Australia service from Sydney to Brisbane.
                                    The AOA pilot and 3 passengers received minor burns.  A photograph of the conflagration appears
                                    at the foot of the page.  Shell  replaced the Rapide with a new Percival Vega Gull VH-ABS which
                                    in turn was destroyed in the Ansett Airways hangar fire at Essendon in February 1939.