In addition to its 'mainstream' fleet of light aircraft that were based in the captital cities, DCA also owned a number of one-of light aircraft that were used for various purposes including continuation training and personnel transport. One of these was Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee C VH-CAF (cn 28-3998), which was based in Townsville to give mobility to the Departmental personnel based there to cover northern Queensland.

VH-CAF was purchased new at a cost of A$18,000 and registered on 22 June 1967. It was based in Townsville throughout its Departmental career and seems to have been disposed of (along with the majority of the fleet) in about 1990. The photo above shows VH-CAF at Townsville on 4 January 1971. Of interest is the standard Piper colour scheme and the DCA Flying Unit badge on the forward fuselage.

As of June 2008 VH-CAF is still registered.

There was also an earlier VH-CAF - a DCA Tiger Moth

(Photo: Peter Kelly via Geoff Goodall)

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