General Aircraft Monospar ST.11 VH-UAZ

Monospar VH-UAZ was flown by the CAB until crashing on take-off at Archerfield Aerodrome, Brisbane on 1 February 1937. It was repaired by Qantas Empire Airways and on 5 October test flown. It departed for Essendon on the same day. The aircraft’s last flight in CAB service, Sydney/Mascot to Melbourne/Essendon took place on 19 Feb 1939. The aircraft was then stored at Essendon with a total flying time of 617 hours.

On 15 February 1941 the aircraft was sold to Keith Farmer and test flown at Essendon on 30 March. ‘UAZ was based at Coode Island aerodrome, Melbourne. This shot shows the aircraft at Melbourne/Coode Island at an unknown date. The Larkin Aircraft Supply Co. (LASCO) hangars are in the background, as is Sopwith Gnu VH-UBY. Of note is the absence of the previously fitted undercarriage fairings, as well as the painted band on the rear fuselage. This was possibly a yellow wartime recognition marking.

In 1942, with aircraft for civil use a scarcity, VH-UAZ was sold to Airlines (W.A.) Ltd and based in Perth for wartime passenger services to the WA Goldfields, Leonora and Wiluna. It was flown from Melbourne to Perth in a single day, on 31 May 1942, by Charles William Snook, the founder of Airlines (W.A.).

VH-UAZ's last flight was Perth-Norseman-Esperance-Perth on 6 October 1945. It was then retired in the Airlines hangar at Maylands. It was sold for scrap in 1948, but saved by Allan Boothey who was an engineer with the airline and he took the aircraft to his home in the Perth suburb of Redcliffe. He sold the Pobjoy engines back to Keith Farmer in Melbourne and planned to use the airframe as a chicken house, but soon after it was destroyed in a grass fire in his backyard. The remains survived into the 1970s and the photo below was taken in August 1972.

(Photos: Geoff Goodall collection)

General Aircraft Monospar ST.11 VH-UAZ

Monospar VH-UAZ was flown by the CAB until crashing on take-off at Archerfield Aerodrome, Brisbane on 1 February 1937. It was repaired by Qantas Empire Airways and on 5 October test flown. It departed for Essendon on the same day. The aircraft’s last flight in CAB service, Sydney/Mascot to Melbourne/Essendon took place on 19 Feb 1939. The aircraft was then stored at Essendon with a total flying time of 617 hours. On 15 February 1941 the aircraft was sold to Keith Farmer and test flown at Essendon on 30 March. ‘UAZ was based at Coode Island aerodrome, Melbourne. This shot shows the aircraft at Melbourne/Coode Island at an unknown date. The Larkin Aircraft Supply Co. (LASCO) hangars are in the background, as is Sopwith Gnu VH-UBY. Of note is the absence of the previously fitted undercarriage fairings, as well as the painted band on the rear fuselage. This was possibly a yellow wartime recognition marking. In 1942, with aircraft for civil use a scarcity, VH-UAZ was sold to Airlines (W.A.) Ltd and based in Perth for wartime passenger services to the WA Goldfields, Leonora and Wiluna. It was flown from Melbourne to Perth in a single day, on 31 May 1942, by Charles William Snook, the founder of Airlines (W.A.). VH-UAZ's last flight was Perth-Norseman-Esperance-Perth on 6 October 1945. It was then retired in the Airlines hangar at Maylands. It was sold for scrap in 1948, but saved by Allan Boothey who was an engineer with the airline and he took the aircraft to his home in the Perth suburb of Redcliffe. He sold the Pobjoy engines back to Keith Farmer in Melbourne and planned to use the airframe as a chicken house, but soon after it was destroyed in a grass fire in his backyard. The remains survived into the 1970s and the photo below was taken in August 1972. (Photos: Geoff Goodall collection)

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