VH-ABU  (2)   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 photo below is from the Kevin OReilly collection and shows -ABU at Moorabbin in the early 1950s
                               when it was owned by Charlie Pratt who used it for joyriding .    Following that is a color image by Barrie
                               Colledge taken at Essendon in 1956.   The Puss Moth was withdrawn from active status shortly after that.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 the shot at the foot of the page on a July 2009 visit to
                               the museum.

                               
                        
                            

                              

                              








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