VH-PAO Piper PA-24-250 Comanche
(c/n 24-2298)
Here are three views of the same
Comanche. Above, from the Ian Mackenzie collection shows
the aircraft in
its original Piper livery at Bankstown in the 1960s when operated by a
breeder of
Santa Gertrudis
cattle. See enlargement of the tail, below.
Do the long range wing tip tanks
indicate it was
flown over from Lock Haven on delivery? Originally imported
in August 1962 for
the Royal Newcastle
Aero Club, ex N7133P, the aircraft had a series of owners in NSW before
going west
to WA. Following the close up images is a photo by Geoff
Goodsall at Busselton, WA
in April
1970, only a month after its purchase by local owner Neville
Hyder,
whose farm
included
the WW2 Busselton
RAAF airfield, complete with blast-proof
hangar. The photo at the foot of
the page was taken by
Mike Madden in 1971. VH-PAO is
still current, and still in WA.