VH-DEC  Cessna 180A Skywagon                           (c/n  32678)                                   

                                    

                                        This early (1957) 180A was first registered in Australia in December 1962, ex N7781A.  When Bob
                                        Neate took the above shot at Narromine, NSW in 1963 it was owned by Westair Aviation Service of
                                        Coonabarabran NSW.  It looks as though its dusting gear had not, at that time, been fitted, plus the
                                        painter had gotten the points of the "C" too long (looks almost like VH-DEG). .  In 1979 the aircraft
                                        must have been out of Cof A as its registration was allocated to a Bellanca 8KCAB Decathlon (naturally)
                                        and the Cessna became VH-DEQ when finally restored to the register in May 1981.  It 1985 it went to
                                        PNG and became P2-DEQ.  It sustained serious damage at the Arufi Mission Airstrip in July 1990 but
                                        was rebuilt and shipped to the UK in May of 1991 becoming G-BTSM in July of that year.     In July
                                        2008 it was acquired by an owner in New Zealand and registered ZK-TSM (kept its last three).
                                        As such it is still current.