VH-BNI de Havilland D.H.82A Tiger Moth
(c/n DHA1048)
The above photo by
Mike Vincent (via Geoff Goodall) was taken
at Christies Beach, South Australia,
in March 1969 when the
Tiger was being used for shark
patrols along Adelaide Beaches. Greg Ban-
field's shot,
immediately below, was taken somewhat later at Camden, NSW in April
1972 and
reveals a very plain
civilian finish (prior to gaining its 'warbird' look?).
This Tiger was previously
A17-613,
civilianized through sales by the Commonwealth
Disposals Commission at RAAF Cunder-
din after the
war. It
was stored at Perth's Maylands
Aerodrome until sold to Kingsford Smith Aviation
Services in July
1950. Ferried to Sydney in a
formation flight consisting of VH-AGY, A17-147 and
A17-154, it was
quickly resold to a Thomas Smith of
Penang, Malaya. Mr. Smith, however, kept it
at "Olive Downs"
Station, Maxwelton Qld. It later
went on to enjoy a long life with many private
owners, and, oddly
for the period, was never converted into an
agricultural machine. At the foot of
the page is a
photo by Ian
Mcdonell taken at
Luskintyre in 2010 showing -BNI as it is today in
full
WW II regalia and with a
minuscule civil rego under the
tailplane. .