DH82a Tiger Moth VH-CAG

De Havilland DH82a Mk II Tiger Moth VH-CKF (c/n 596/T200) was the former Department of Civil Aviation VH-CAG, the Western Australian Regional hack based in Perth.

Following DCA use, the aircraft was sold to the Gliding Association of Western Australia on 5 April 1960 for £450 and re-registered, appropriately, as VH-TUG on 7 July. It was the first powered tug aircraft purchased by an Australia gliding club. At some stage the canopy and VHF radio fitted in DCA service were removed, but the aircraft retained its raked-forward undercarriage and tailwheel. On 22 October 1965 the aircraft was re-registered VH-CKF (VH-TUG was re-used on the Gliding Association's Chipmunk).

On 2 April 1966 VH-CKF was sold E R Cusack of Kellerberrin, WA, who sold it in turn to farmer Geoff Lawrence of Benjaberring, WA, on 11 August 1968. It is seen on the owner's property in the photo above on 2 December 1969 in a red and white colour scheme.

By 1972 the aircraft had been re-covered and re-painted in an overall silver scheme when it was auctioned to the Narrogin Flying Club for $3500 on 11 April during a bankrupcy sale of Geoff's farm and all belongings.

The Narrogin Flying Club operated the aircraft for some 14 years before selling VH-CKF to MMA Captain Reg Adkins and his wife Shirley on 28 August 1986. In a strange twist, Reg Adkins did his Flying Instructor Rating test in this aircraft, as VH-CAG, on 31 July 1950 with Earl Fry, one time Regional Director WA and later Qld. The photo below shows Reg and his son Alwyn landing VH-CKF at Perth's river-front Langley Park aerodrome on 13 May 1990 a t a fly-in to welcome home Brian Edwards who had just flown Tiger Moth VH-HPH from England as a tribute to his father, a Second World War bomber pilot.

The Adkins' sold the aircraft to the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia on 10 November 1995, who used it for Joy flights based at Jandakot. It was withdrawn from service after the infamous 'wings pulled off' incident to another Tiger Moth in the mid-1990s. Following a long term (when work permits) rebuild by the RACWA engineers, VH-CKF was returned to the air in 2008 in an overall yellow RAAF trainer colour scheme.

(Photos: Above-Geoff Goodall; Below-Reg Adkins collection)

De Havilland DH82a Tiger Moth VH-CKF (ex VH-CAG)

De Havilland DH82a Mk II Tiger Moth VH-CKF (c/n 596/T200) was the former Department of Civil Aviation VH-CAG, the Western Australian Regional hack based in Perth. Following DCA use, the aircraft was sold to the Gliding Association of Western Australia on 5 April 1960 for £450 and re-registered, appropriately, as VH-TUG on 7 July. It was the first powered tug aircraft purchased by an Australia gliding club. At some stage the canopy and VHF radio fitted in DCA service were removed, but the aircraft retained its raked-forward undercarriage and tailwheel. On 22 October 1965 the aircraft was re-registered VH-CKF (VH-TUG was re-used on the Gliding Association's Chipmunk). On 2 April 1966 VH-CKF was sold E R Cusack of Kellerberrin, WA, who sold it in turn to farmer Geoff Lawrence of Benjaberring, WA, on 11 August 1968. It is seen on the owner's property in the photo above on 2 December 1969 in a red and white colour scheme. By 1972 the aircraft had been re-covered and re-painted in an overall silver scheme when it was auctioned to the Narrogin Flying Club for $3500 on 11 April during a bankrupcy sale of Geoff's farm and all belongings. The Narrogin Flying Club operated the aircraft for some 14 years before selling VH-CKF to MMA Captain Reg Adkins and his wife Shirley on 28 August 1986. In a strange twist, Reg Adkins did his Flying Instructor Rating test in this aircraft, as VH-CAG, on 31 July 1950 with Earl Fry, one time Regional Director WA and later Qld. The photo below shows Reg and his son Alwyn landing VH-CKF at Perth's river-front Langley Park aerodrome on 13 May 1990 a t a fly-in to welcome home Brian Edwards who had just flown Tiger Moth VH-HPH from England as a tribute to his father, a Second World War bomber pilot. The Adkins' sold the aircraft to the Royal Aero Club of Western Australia on 10 November 1995, who used it for Joy flights based at Jandakot. It was withdrawn from service after the infamous 'wings pulled off' incident to another Tiger Moth in the mid-1990s. Following a long term (when work permits) rebuild by the RACWA engineers, VH-CKF was returned to the air in 2008 in an overall yellow RAAF trainer colour scheme. (Photos: Above-Geoff Goodall; Below-Reg Adkins collection)

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