NZDF-Serials

Serial	R.A.F.	c/n	Aircraft history
135	?	?	Built by De Havillands to Air Ministry Contract No 71B 225/26. First flew at Stag Lane in early 1927. Arrived at Lyttleton on board "Remuera" on Thursday 31 March 1927 for the NZPAF who intended to use it for survey work. It was assembled at Wigram and fitted with an Eagle VIII camera which was aimed through 2 doors cut in the floor of the aircraft's fuselage. The aircraft proved to not be a stable enough platform for photography and as a result spent most of it's time on communications duties. Operated with the serial 135. It was hired to a company named Air Travel between 06 November 1930 and 12 April 1931 in an abortive attempt to run an airline service between Christchurch and Dunedin. At the end of this time the aircraft had flown 259 hours on the route. Overturned at Wigram after landing there on 29 April 1931. Ultimately exported to New Guinea in 1933 and entered the Australian Register as VH-UQX on 04 May 1933 with Holdens Air Transport Services, Sydney. To Guinea Airways New Guinea. Damaged on landing at Ramu on 21 March 1937 when the aircraft swung into long grass and crashed off the airfield.. Expected to be repaired by 30 June 1937 but the aircraft was struck off the register on 03 May 1937.