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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 0964.PDF
7oo JUNE 24TH, 194s DROVER TAKES THE AIR : Photographed over the Bankstown factory, the first Drover made its maiden flight in the hands of Brian Walker in January this year. COMING OF J927—1948. Growth of de Havilland's Aus THIS year the de Havilland Aircraft Pty., Ltd.,* Australian branch of the de Havilland AircraftCompany of Hatfield, celebrated its coming of age. It is natural that the parent company should regard with more than ordinary satisfaction the attainment of its majority by the first overseas unit of an organization which, in one decade, spread to every Dominion. It is also an appropriate time to trace the story of the 21 years of effort and achievement which culminated in an aircraft produc- tion establishment which made a most valuable contribu- tion to the widely dispersed, yet closely knit, Imperial war effort. Australian Branch Founded The D.H. Aircraft Pty., Ltd., was officially born on March 7th, 1927, when the Company was incorporated in Victoria, after a preliminary tour in 1926 by Major Hereward de Havilland, brother of Sir Geoffrey. There was then a number of D.H. aircraft operating in Australia—D.H. 50AS in service with West Australian Ai&J ways, -Ltd., Australian Air Services, Ltd., and "* the latter holding a licence to build the type atjiUp reach base. Wherever their aircraft flew-^DJHL after- sales service had to follow, and»£O the nwn who were to lay the foundations of the new^jftsfiftS of the Major H. de Havilland, MrsF_J**iDBettfoj^ and Taylor, sailed for PertJj^MySii 1927 wiffe ths asset of the new firtfC a%irrus II Moth^fnySeThliLd of the ship. On arrival this Moth was assembled and Down from Perth to Melbourne via Kal- goorlie, the Great Vic-, torian Desert, Port Augusta and Ade- laide, the 2,000-mile journey being com- pleted in four days despite severe head winds. After much search ing, headquarters were established in a broken - down galvan- ized - iron warehouse Mn John Rryne> a ,jirtctor wri0 has of 6,000 square feet in been with the company since the early Whiteman Street, days. 'Mr. D. H. McLachlan, secretary and director of the D. H. Pty. Ltd., photographed with Mr.F.E.N. St. Barbe, business director of the parent company. Melbourne. Here the works manager, Mr. P. L. Tavr^r, .••; selected his "shop staff," Mr. Goodman, and the assem bly of the first Moth to arrive from England was under- taken in the face of the discomforts and difficulties of these unsuitable premises. Altogether about a dozen Cirrus were assembled, rigged and inspected there, after hey were towed, with wings folded, behind an old Cowley to Essendon airfield, about seven miles dis- -; for flight testing. In 1928 the Moth was adopted as a primary trainer by the R.A.A.F., and by the end of the year 30 of these aircraft had been assembled at the R.A.A.F. depot at Cook Point. The staff at Whiteman Street increased to 25, and towards the end of 1928 the first Gipsy Moths arrived from England to be adopted by the aero clubs and owner- pilots with whom they were exceedingly popular. Also a small number of D.H. 50s and D.H. 75 Hornet Moths were sold, some of which were still in service during the recent war. With the increase of aircraft sales came the demand for more servicing and repair work, so that by the end of 1929 the firm was developing as its founders had envis- aged. But the depression which became world-wide in 1932 made its first appearance in Australia in 1929 and,
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