VH-UNC General
Aircraft Genairco Open Biplane
(c/n 10)
The above is a classic
company publicity shot from General Aircraft of -UNC taken at Mascot
in early 1930 before its
onward sale to Rockhampton Aerial Services Ltd. This photo is
courtesy
of the John Hopton
collection. The
shot below,
from the Geoff Goodall collection, was taken at
Archerfield in 1938,
whilst the
scratchy
print at the foot of the page is from my own scrapbook.
VH-UNC was the first
Genairco, sometimes referred to as
the Genairco
Moth. Although based
on the D.H.60
Moth design, the
Genairco was
actually a totally different aeroplane. Following its
ownership by the
Rockhampton
company, -UNC had several other owners in Queensland.
Its last
keeper, E. D. Hill of
"Rose Vale" Station, Wyandra joined the
RAAF at the outbreak of WW2
and had the aircraft stored "for the duration" in dismantled condition
at Dalby Qld. In January 1946
he applied to DCA to get it
flying
again, planning to replace its Gipsy III with a Gipsy Major and the
aircraft was moved to Archerfield
to renew its CofA and change engines. However in December
1947 Hill told DCA that he no
longer wished to re-register the Genairco, as he had purchased the
DH.84 Dragon -AYZ (which he flew for many years).
The fate -UNC is unknown It probably
rotted in away a barn somewhere.