Next is VH-ACQ. Another early arrival it was given to Spencers Gulf Aero Club, Whyalla SA in 1940. After an accident at the end of the year it was basically no longer used and withdrawn from service, stored in hangar at Whyalla for duration of war. Spencers Gulf Aero Club ceased operations end 1945 and assets taken over by N. L. Schuppan who had the rego cancelled in 1947 likely due to the airframe not being servicable. No photo was located.

Now we move onto VH-ACR. There is a very long writeup for this one on Geoff Goodall's site, and photos on https://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austa/VH-ACR.html. Another early 1940 airframe which was shunted off to Matheson Aviation Training Co Ltd, Archerfield Aerodrome Qld and operated for a time by them until 22.1.41 when the CofA expired and Matheson Aviation Training Co Ltd went into voluntary liquidation. Late 1941 it was repossessed by the RAAF and given the wartime serial of A21-42. Put up for disposal in Feb 1945 it had several owners until stored 1947-63.

Profile of VH-ACR in the simple scheme of Silver overall with Black rego on fuselage but none on fin or upper wings. Ref images believed taken 1945-46.

In the years 1964-78 it was displayed in an Air Museum. Acquired by a Mr Sutherland it was eventually restored to airworthy status carrying it's wartime serial of A21-14 (overall Silver with Black serial and RAAF roundels etc (photo on Geoff Goodall's site)). It later became VH-CZB and repainted in a Yellow RAAF scheme as it's wartime serial A21-42. See https://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austcl/VH-CZB%282%29.html and Geoff Goodall's site.

Next VH-ACS another issue to Spencers Gulf Aero Club, Whyalla SA and again it was stored a lot of the time until the club went into voluntary liquidation. In the period 1946-68 it went through quite a large number of owners. 28.1.68 it visited Portland Vic airshow, noted all silver with red nose cone, cheat line and undercarriage legs. I have quite a few images of this airframe which went thru several similar schemes. See Geoff Goodall's site for a photo.

Profile of VH-ACS in the scheme of Silver overall with likely Black rego on fin and Red for the wings. Red nose and painted legs.

Another note on Geoff Goodall's site says 27.1.74 visited Griffith NSW airshow, Mickey Mouse cartoon under front cockpit. There are several images available of this scheme, see https://www.airhistory.net/ and https://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac1/austa/VH-ACS.html, plus those below courtesy of Alan Flett (the 'Galland' Mickey Mouse insignia is to Port only).

Profile of VH-ACS in the scheme of Silver overall with likely Black rego on fin and Red for the wings. 'Galland' Mickey Mouse insignia is to Port only in B/W.

The legs may be Red but hard to tell in the shadow under the wing. Now with a Red flash on the fuselage but Red removed from the nose. AHMWA image P881214.

Profile of VH-ACS in the scheme shown above.

It was seen in at least one more variation, 1990-2002 it was on loan to Air World, Wangaratta Vic for display, rego on tail is only markings seen in a photo on Eddie Coates site.

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