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Photo: The wreck of Captain Harry Butler's Avro 504 biplane at Minlaton 10 January 1922. SLSA [B 9649]
South Australian Historic Aircraft
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Cessna Silverwing Replica.
The original Silverwing was flown by Clyde Cessna on 11 August 1911 at Enid, Oklahoma. This replica was built by Rossair, Adelaide and was displayed at Parafield and Edinburgh during the 1966 National Air Show. In February 1968 it was on display at Australia Square, Sydney. Its location was unknown for more than 40 years. This replica is now display at the South Australian Aviation Museum.
Bristol M1C Monoplane C5001
Known as the 'Red Devil' this plane was built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company (later the Bristol Aeroplane Company) at Filton, England, and delivered to the Royal Flying Corps on the 4th February, 1918. Capt. Harry Butler A.F.C. purchased this plane from the British Government and shipped it to South Australia in 1919 and used it to carry air mail from Adelaide to his home town, Minlaton, on 6th August 1919. This plane is on public display at Minlaton, South Australia.
More about this aircraft: vwma.org.au/explore/memorials/541 [external website].
More about Harry Butler: adb.anu.edu.au/biography/butler-henry-john-5446 [external website]
Vickers Vimy G-EAOU
G-EAOU was flown by the brothers Ross and Keith Smith, together with mechanics Jim Bennett and Wally Shiers, to victory in the 1919 England to Australia Air Race. In the process, they became the first people ever to fly from England to Australia. This plane is on public display at Adelaide Airport. More about this aircraft: vickersvimy.com.au/discover/the-vickers-vimy/ [external website].
deHavilland DH-60G Gipsy Moth VH-ULJ
First Registered in 1929 as VH-ULJ in Queensland. In 1933, it was flown to New Guinea to be used by Holden's Air Transoprt, based at Salamaua, New Guinea, servicing the Bulolo goldfields. It was sold to Guinea Airways in 1937 and evacuated to Adelaide in 1942 (during WW2). It was later used by the Education Department of S.A. for instructional purposes. This plane is on public display at the South Australian Aviation Museum.
deHavilland DH-60M Gipsy Moth VH-ULO
Assigned to Australian Aero Club (S.A. section) in 1929 at Parafield. Crashed at Kapunda 1937. VH-ULO was flown by Brownie Lunn and Roy Gropler and was the aircraft that Jimmy Melrose first went solo in. This plane is in storage at the South Australian Aviation Museum awaiting a major restoration.
Sheppard CS2
Designed and built in 1930 by Clem Sheppard. Powered by a Henderson (Indian) motor cycle engine. This plane had fold back wings so it could be towed behind a car. It was flown at Virginia by Bill Maddocks (an RACSA instructor). This plane is on public display at the South Australian Aviation Museum.