VH-UON  de Havilland D.H.80A Puss Moth                  (c/n  2001)

                              

                                   The above excellent shot is from the Fairfax archives, via the NLA. and shows  -UON when
                                   owned by R.G. Whitehead at Mascot on 26 November 1934.       Ex G-AATC, this was the
                                   first production Puss Moth, imported into Australia in August 1930.  Imported by de Havilland's
                                   it had several owners in NSW (including J.J. Leahy).    The image below, from the State Library
                                   of N.S.W. collection shows R.G. Whitehead and R. Nichols in November 1934 with the aircraft,
                                   by then named "Faith in New Zealand" prior to their flight from Gerringong Beach, NSW to
                                   Doubtless Bay, then on to Auckland, New Zealand.   It became ZK-ADU and was withdrawn
                                   from use in the late 1930s.  The remains have been a rebuild project for the past two decades or
                                   so.  All Puss Moths had their Certificates of Registration suspended in September 1932, pending
                                   investigation on a  number of crashes.  Most were restored within six months, although were often
                                   sold to other owners when restored!     The grainy image at no 3 was extracted from the Sydney
                                   Morning Herald for 15 November 1934 and shows Nicholls and Whitehead working on -UON
                                   prior to the New Zealand flight.  At the foot of the page is a photo from the Geoff Goodall
                                   collection showing -UON in 1930 in original livery and narrow tires and with 'De Havilland
                                   Puss Moth' on the cowling..