VH-EQC  Fletcher FU-24                               (c/n  146)

                                     

                                         'Green Acres Air Agriculture - Guyra' reads the legend on this Fletcher.  Photo by John Wheatley.
                                         at Guyra, NSW.     Built as ZK-CYX, it was registered in Australia in July 1969.        The FU-24
                                         underwent continued development over the years.   The early New Zealand production models were
                                         285 hp and 300 hp models (as opposed to the original 225 hp).    In 1967 the original 27 cubic foot
                                         hopper was replaced by a 37 cubic foot fibreglass hopper.  This resulted in the need for more power
                                         and several projects by operators were commenced to install the 400 hp Continental IO-720 engine.
                                         Col Pay flew the first 400hp Fu-24/A4 in September 1969.    VH-EQS was upgraded to A4 status
                                         in 1974.  Rather surprisingly (for an agricultural aircraft), VH-EQC is still registered (to Neit Pty Ltd
                                         of Jerilderie).