This airframe is now a freighter with QANTAS Freight having flown in passenger configuration since its introduction into the QANTAS Group fleet. VH-EBE also has had a name change to Southern Cross.

Looking splendid, with the better nose art version, regained code and original serial on the tail. Built as a DC-3 for American Airlines but not taken up, became USAAF C-49J 43-1975 instead. To N87745 in September 1976, after a handful of US registrations and one Mexican. Operated by Southern Cross Aviaton for about two decades as a jump plane, until badly hurricane-damaged. Into the airshow circuit to regain funds spent on restoration; doing pleasure flights at the photo date. Registration modestly in black below the horizontal stabiliser, not visible from this angle.

Parked in front of the museum hangar. From 2008 until about 2012 this former C-49J was wrongly painted with nonsense serials 41-6315 and 41-6531 at the same time, on the left and right side respectively (both obviously based on the c/n). In the mid 2010s it briefly flew with fake serial "411973", but in about 2016 it was finally painted with its correct serial, 43-1975.

This replica of Kinsgsford Smith and Ulm's famous 'Southern Cross' was built as a bicentennial project at Parafield and registered on 3 Jun '87. First flight made in Aug '87. It is powered by 3 x 300hp Jacobs R-755A2 (original had 220hp Wright J-5s) and endurance 7 hrs at 90kts. Badly damaged on landing 25 Apr '02 at Parafield after right wheel fell off on takeoff. Restored to flight by HARS in December 2023.

This replica of Kinsgsford Smith and Ulm's famous 'Southern Cross' was built as a bicentennial project at Parafield and registered on 3 Jun '87. First flight made in Aug '87. It is powered by 3 x 300hp Jacobs R-755A2 (original had 220hp Wright J-5s) and endurance 7 hrs at 90kts. Badly damaged on landing 25 Apr '02 at Parafield after right wheel fell off on takeoff. Restored to flight by HARS in December 2023.

The superb Fokker replica which was built to commemorate the pioneer flying by Charles Kingsford Smith, notably the first trans-Pacific crossing in 1928. Seen here undergoing final preparation for return to flight, which was achieved just a month later.

This aircraft is now displayed in the Solent Sky Museum at Southampton, UK, painted in the livery it wore when in the service of Ansett Flying Boat Services and carrying it's former registration and name VH-BRC "Beachcomber".

One of the famous Iraqi Furies that came to Australia via the USA where it had been raced in these colours. Fitted with a Wright R-3350 engine in place of a Bristol Centaurus.

Really a Fury, not a Sea Fury, this aircraft was delivered to the Iraq Air Force in November 1953, serial 325. In 1979 the aircraft was recovered and shipped to the USA for restoration. It was rebuilt with a Wright R-3350 for air racing and painted in Royal Australian Navy colours. Registered N30SF on 27 August 1979 but made its first post-restoration flight in 1990. Re-registered N71GB on 13 August 2013. Exported to Australia to join the Paul Bennett Airshows flying circus and re-registered VH-HPB on 13 February 2024.

Really a Fury, not a Sea Fury, this aircraft was delivered to the Iraq Air Force in November 1953, serial 325. In 1979 the aircraft was recovered and shipped to the USA for restoration. It was rebuilt with a Wright R-3350 for air racing and painted in Royal Australian Navy colours. Registered N30SF on 27 August 1979 but made its first post-restoration flight in 1990. Re-registered N71GB on 13 August 2013. Exported to Australia to join the Paul Bennett Airshows flying circus and re-registered VH-HPB on 13 February 2024.

Built in 1925 for Australian arctic explorer George Hubert Wilkins as NC1985. Bought by Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm sans engines and instruments on 31 Oct 1927 for the first crossing of the Pacific by air in 1928 - still registered as NC1985. Re-registered G-AUSU on 04 Jul 1928. Re-registered VH-USU in January 1929 but lapsed 3 Jul 1929. Renewed on 16 Apr 1931. Used on various other record-breaking flights or more mundane duties, it was eventually sold to the Australian Government in July 1935. In 1958, it was put on display at the original Brisbane's Eagle Farm airport before being moved to the present site circa 1989.

Built for American with Wright GR-1820-202A engines but went to USAF as C-49J 43-1975. Falsely painted as 41-6315 (from its c/n) on this side, and as 41-6531 on the other side. Not a bad way to start my trip to the States.

After a long restoration and rebuild, the Southern Cross replica looks great and is taxying again, but is not quite airworthy yet.

The Southern Cross was made famous by Charles Kingsford Smith and his team. It later became VH-USU, but it is shown here preserved in Brisbane in this hangar with its original registration NC1985.

This was not the first time the Southern Cross had flown to New Zealand. The first time was 1928. Charles Kingsford Smith flew back there in 1933 to raise money by providing joy flights. He and the plane returned in 1934. While at Palmerston North in 1933 Southern Cross ran intro a ditch putting it out of the air for a month.

The Starboard side of 831, with my Luscombe 8F parked on the ramp below the rear fuselage. ILN was about a 30 minute flight from where I kept my plane in Columbus, Ohio.

On the night of 19 March 1932, the day of the opening of the famous Sydney Harbour bridge, the Southern Cross took a load of passengers to view the illuminations on the bridge. Returning to Mascot - as it then was - the Southern Cross made a heavy landing and was badly damaged. The aircraft underwent extensive repairs before returning to the air.

The famous Southern Cross taking off from what was then Mascot Aerodrome.