VH-REF (2) Reims/Cessna FR172 Reims
Rocket (c/n
FR172-0024)
In February 1960 Cessna acquired
a 49% interest in Avions Max Holste in France and changed
the name of the
company to Reims Aviation. This organization built models
150, 152, 172, 177,
182 and 337 for
the European and Middle East markets.
Basically
these French built Cessnas
were identical
to their US built counterparts but there were certain models which were
unique to
the French
company. One such was an uprated 172 known as the Reims
Rocket, with a 210 hp
Rolls-Royce built
Continental IO-360-D. Up until 1970 95% of all Cessnas imported
into Aust-
ralia were Wichita
built. There were, however, a handful of French built machines.
VH-REF,
seen above in this nice shot
from the Geoff Goodall collection, taken at Jandakot in
October 1969
was one of them It was owned at the time
by Mileura
Pastoral Company of Mileura Station, via
Cue, WA.
This aircraft was
first registered in June 1968 as VH-REH
to Rex Aviation at Banks-
town. For some odd reason it was changed the
following day to VH-REF. It appears, however,
not to have been re-painted for some time, since it was entered in the
Weekend News Air Trial
from Jandakot to Carnarvon as
VH-REH in October 1968. Even more odd was the fact that
whilst it was sighted in and
around the Perth area (or at least recorded in logs that way) during
1969 as VH-REF, Geoff managed to
take a photo of it as VH-REH (see next entry) as late as
22 December 1969!
Thus far no logical explanation has been made for these sightings.
VH-REF is still current, still in WA, and now based at Port Hedland.