VH-UQL   de Havilland D.H.80A Puss Moth                  (c/n  2088)

                                    

                                         The above photo is from the CAHS archives and shows -UQL circa 1932 when owned
                                         by H.F. Broadbent, t/a Sydney Air Taxis.  It was named 'Babs II'.  The enlargement below
                                         shows the name and the word "TAXIS".  The flying club-like stripes are odd.   Following
                                         that, below, is a shot from my father's scrapbook, and came from a small picture in a 1935
                                         magazine.  This shot was taken at Brunette Downs in the NT and the aircraft would have
                                         been operated at that time by G.M. Shepherd who used it in the Mackay Expeditions to
                                         survey Central Australia.  It is seen in the photo of VH-UTK whilst engaged in this work.
                                         At the foot of the page is a shot from the Len Dobbins collection, probably taken some time
                                         later.   In 1936 it was sold to North Queensland Airways Pty Ltd, and then taken over by
                                         Airlines of Australia Ltd in December 1938.   It was written off in a crash at Coen, Qld
                                         on 27 August 1941.