I remember when Fox Moths worked for a living.
Here we have a view of De Havilland DH83C Fox Moth ZK-AQB c/n FM.49 taken in the long gone hangar at Tauranga in April of 1969.
A Canadian built example - recognisable by the tailwheel and the cockpit canopy - it arrived in NZ at Auckland on 13-10-1947 aboard the Australind. It was registered to the Auckland Aero Club on 25-11-1947 and to the Tauranga Aero Club on 17-12-1955. J Paterson of Tauranga appears on 17-04-1959 followed by W Paterson of Motiti Island from 01-01-1961.
It was damaged on Motiti Island on 28-06-1972 with the remains going to David Lilico of Papatoetoe on 26-10-1972 and then to Miles Robertson of Takapuna on 15-10-1976. I believe Miles did some restoration on the airframe before it went to Colin Smith at Mandeville.
Its registration was cancelled on 20-05-1991. It is still currently under restoration - I believe for John Eaton.
The Patersons were farming two thirds of Motiti Island from the early 1900's through to the second half of the century and this aircraft was useful for ferrying lighter smaller supplies to and from the island. Craig Paterson
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