VH-USQ  Cierva C.30A  Autogiro (c/n 772)

                            
                         
              
                         Three Cierva C.30A machines were imported into Australia during 1935, represented by VH-USQ, seen
                         above, VH-USR (next entry) and VH-UUQ.   These interesting machines were designed by Don Juan
                         de la Cierva, the Spanish inventor of the first practical rotary wing aircraft.  His earlier designs had been
                         built around Avro aircraft, although the C.30A was a brand new design, some 66 of which were built.
                         The shot below is from the Geoff Goodall collection and was taken in Maylands (Perth, WA) in 1935.
                         Just what the machine was doing out there is not clear, since it was a NSW registered aircraft for all of
                         its active life.  (It was withdrawn from use in 1940).  The very bottom shot comes from Ryan Turner,
                         via Darren Crick of the ADF-Serials website.  Reputed to have been shot at Broken Hill, circa 1939.
                         Possibly Mildura.  (At least Penfolds Wines are still going strong).