VH-CAX  Aero Commander 680E                             (c/n  851-73)

                                  

                                      In 1960 DCA acquired two Aero Commander 680Es (VH-CAX and -CAV) to be used as
                                      communications machines, to augment the 560Es and to replace the Ansons which were, by
                                      then, way past their sell-by date.   VH-CAX, seen above in this nice shot by Greg Thom at
                                      Essendon in 1980, has had its DCA logo replaced by a Department of Transport insignia on
                                      the nose (looks like the sign painter hadn't gotten around to the one on the fin).  No longer a
                                      DOT aircraft, this fifty year old 1959 model 680E is still going strong, as evidenced by Phil
                                      Vabre's shot below taken at Temora in 2014.  This aircraft is now privately owned in NSW.