VH-FAS  de Havilland D.H.82A Tiger Moth                (c/n  DHA34)

                               

                                     VH-FAS was the former A17-37.  It was civilianized in July 1947 as VH-RJA for Ronald
                                     J. Annetts of Melbourne, operating under the snappy name of Hire or Fly Yourself And Air
                                     Services Pty Ltd (quite a mouth-full) at Essendon.   In 1949 it went to Furness Aviation of
                                     Parafield, SA, who re-registered it for their initials as VH-FAS.  As such it was purchased
                                     in 1959 by Superspread Pty Ltd of Moorabbin.  (I wonder why it wasn't re-registered into
                                     the VH-SS- series?).  It is seen above at Moorabbin in 1961 in this shot from the Geoff
                                     Goodall collection.   After its crop spraying days were done it was acquired by the Royal
                                     Aero Club of WA at Jandakot as kind of a "nostalgia" machine, and repainted into a very
                                     attractive paint scheme as seen in Geoff's own shot (immediately below) taken at Jandakot
                                     in March 1970.  VH-FAS is still extant and still in West Australia.    It is now re-painted
                                     (naturally) as a "warbird" as seen in the nice shot at the foot of the page by Carsten Bauer
                                     also at Jandakot but in May 2004.    Although still operated by the RACWA it is used, I
                                     believe, mainly for air show participation, rather than as an instructional machine.