A10 DH 50A
Early in World War II, during the dramatic advance of the Japanese, the forces arrayed for the defence of Australia were decidedly meagre. Operational aircraft were at a premium, while transport aircraft were practically non-existent. Consequently, many civil aircraft were impressed including the DH 50A, VH-UAB, which was taken over from F. T. O'Dea in Lae, Papua New Guinea, on 23 November 1942, and operated by the RAAF in 1943 as A10-1.
The DH 50A was originally imported in 1924 for the Controller of Civil Aviation. The aircraft came an unofficial second in the third NSW Aerial Derby at Richmond. With the introduction of national prefixes G-AUAB became VH-UAB and, as such, was temporarily transferred to the RAAF from May 1931 to May 1932.
After subsequent changes of civil ownership, including Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, and the replacement of the Puma engines with a Pratt and Whitney radial, VH-AUB finally became A10-1 in 1943 recalling a previous DH 50A association when A8-1 entered the RAAF in 1926.
TECHNICAL DATA: de Havilland DH 50A
DESCRIPTION:
Four-seat communications aircraft, with pilot in open cockpit behind a small cabin.
POWER PLANT:
One 240 hp Siddeley Puma
DIMENSIONS:
Span 13.03 m (42ft 9in); Length 8.76 m (29ft 9in); Height 3.35 m (11ft).
WEIGHTS:
Empty, 1095 kg; loaded 1905 kg.
PERFORMANCE:
Landplane - Max speed 175 km/h (95 kt); Ceiling 14,600ft (4450 m); Range 603 km (326 nm). Seaplane - Max speed 173 km/h; Ceiling 10,500ft (3200 m); Range 579 km (312 nm).
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