G-AUAJ  de Havilland D.H.60 Moth                             (c/n  241)

                              

                                  This early Moth was registered in 1926. This was before the era of  balloon tires.  I assume these
                                  narrow tires were pneumatic and surely not solid?    It was one of the Moths loaned by the Civil
                                 Aviation Branch of the Department of Defence to populate the Australian Aero Clubs around the
                                 country, which had been set up to encourage the development of civilian pilots.    This one went to
                                 the NSW Section, and the above image is courtesy of the National Library of Australia. This ancient
                                 Moth went on to be owned by the Aero Club of New South Wales and then, in 1935, when the club
                                 received Royal charter, the RACNSW.    Like just about all the Moths it was not without its share
                                 of prangs, and one was recorded in the Sydney Morning Herald for 9 June 1929 as seen in the
                                 clipping below, gleaned by Graeme Parsons.   In 1939 it went to a private owner in Wagga, but
                                 was back in Sydney by 1940 flying for Airflite (Training) Pty Ltd.   Later that year it was impressed
                                 into service by the RAAF becoming A7-114.   By that time it was pretty well clapped out and was
                                 reduced to produce in December 1940.   Interestingly a 1985 Cessna 152 (the last year they were
                                 built, and 26 years old in 2011) would not seem that terribly ancient!