VH-RGZ (2) Cessna 150F
(c/n 15061851)
VH-RGZ was among the first imports brought
in by the new Cessna dealership set up in WA,
Simpson Aviation, at the equally new
airport at Jandakot. It is seen above at that locale in this
image by Merv Prime taken in December 1965.
The trainer was brand new at the time and
had just been
registered. Like all new Cessna imports, it had
been assembled out of its crate
by Rex Aviation in Bankstown, NSW, Interestingly, when
uncrated it was found to have been
mispainted in Wichita as ZK-RGZ ! Somebody not paying
attention, no doubt, although attest-
ing also to the large number of machines
coming in to both Australia and New Zealand at that
time.
This, to the chagrin of any local manufacturer trying to break into the
market. There was
also suspicion that 'dumping' was occurring by
the American companies and that deliberate under-
pricing tactics
had been employed. Anyway, Merv's shot is quite rare
since -RGZ was quickly
re-registered VH-RWI in January 1966 when sold
to the Royal Aero Club of WA.