VH-SWB  Cessna 172D Skyhawk                        (c/n  17249952)

                                        

                                              The D Model 172 was the first of the series wherein Cessna officially changed the c/ns to add the
                                              '172' prefix.    This one originally came in to Australia as VH-RYR with Rex Aviation.       When
                                              purchased by South West Aviation of Bunbury it became VH-SWB.  By the time the above photo,
                                              from the Geoff Goodall collection, was taken at Jandakot, Perth, it was owned by Hicks Aviation
                                              and operated by their subsidiary West Coast Air Taxis.    It met its end on 23 October 1970 some
                                              45 miles east of Meekatharra, WA when it was wrecked in a forced landing due to engine failure.