VH-UFA   de Havilland D.H.50A                     (c/n  [QANTAS] 1)

                           

                                VH-UFA was the first of several D.H.50As built by Qantas at Longreach under licence from
                                de Havilland in 1926.  "Iris" was operated as an aerial ambulance in conjunction with Q.A.T.B
                                (Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade) whose ambulance is seen in this image (circa 1932)
                                from the John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland collection.         In the shot below it is
                                seen probably in the hangar at Longreach just after assembly.     The aircraft was sold to Austral
                                Air Services of  Toowoomba in 1935, although brokered by Qantas a year later to North Qld
                                Airways Pty Ltd of Cairns.   It was written off in a crash landing at Cairns on 1 December 1937. .