VH-UOJ  Genairco Cabin                             (c/n  18)

                               
                                  
                                        The above shot, from the John Hopton collection, shows the Cabin Genairco at Mascot in its
                                        original configuration.   It had been rebuilt from an Open Biplane and was the prototype of the
                                        Cabin Model.   Later, in 1933 -UOJ along with the Genairco Open Biplane VH-UOH  it was
                                        operated by the original Fiji Airways from Suva in 1933.       The photo immediately below,
                                        from the Geoff Goodall collection shows -UOJ at Suva just after it had been fitted with floats.
                                        Correspondent Rowan Hughes was an ex-pat teacher there back in the 80s and advises that
                                        this shot was taken at the back of the Grand Pacific Hotel where the kava and beer garden
                                        face out onto Suva Harbour.     -UOJ eventually became VQ-FAD when Fiji was assigned
                                        its own registration series.     Both Genaircos were shipped out from Sydney to Suva, Fiji on
                                        the SS Aorangi, departing 2 Feb 1933.  General Aircraft Co's J.G. Boehm accompanied them,
                                        to assemble the aircraft and fit their floats   At the foot of the page are three historic sepia prints
                                        (I shall leave them that way) from the Ron and Rae Boon collection, kindly submitted by Greg
                                        Weir of Queensland    They show (left) George Boehm of the General Aircraft Co Ltd of Mascot
                                        shaking hands with none other than R.A. (Rab) Butler.  The inscription on the back of that photo
                                        states;  "A Butler record holder from England, congratulates me in the flying qualities of my new
                                        aeroplane". (Signed George).   The final image shows VH-UOJ just after it left the factory before
                                        the application of its identity        The inscription on the reverse of that print, in the handwriting of
                                        Boehm, indicates that this is his "latest bus", and makes reference to the earlier Open Biplane.
                                        VH-UOJ was restored to the Australian register in 1938 as VH-UUK