Finding visuals...
  • The Locator
  • Airframes Database

    Social media...
    Follow AV on facebook
    Follow AV on Twitter @aerial_visuals
    Follow the AV YouTube Channel

    Site navigation...
  • Home
  • Desktop Calendar
  • The Racers
  • FAQs
  • About Aerial Visuals
  • Comment on this Dossier

  • Search For Airframes Now
    Search - Index - Gallery - Reports - Lists - AV Needs You!

    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: de Havilland Australia DHA-3 Drover
    Latest Model:DHA-3-1 Drover
    Construction Number:5007
    Last Civil Registration:VH-FDS
    Compressed ID:de Havilland Australia DHA-3-1 cn 5...
    Latest Owner or Location:Queensland Air Museum, Caloundra, Queensland

    EDIT THE HISTORY HERE
    If you can add to the history or would like to submit a correction please use the editor to do so.

    UPLOAD A PHOTO
    If you have a photo of this airframe to share then use the photo upload tool.

    The Airframes Database depends on user contributions to stay current.
    If you have any news about this airframe or photos which you would like to share please do so
    by using the links above.
    The more you and others share the better the database becomes!

    Dates

    Event

    1951

    Constructed as a DHA-3-1.
    Built by De Havilland Aircraft Pty Ltd at Bankstown Airport, Sydney NSW.

    14 August 1951

    To Trans Australia Airlines, Melbourne Vic with new c/r VH-DRC.
    Operated for Flying Doctor Service of Australia, initially based Cloncurry Qld.

    10 September 1963

    To Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) with new c/r VH-FDS.

    1 July 1969

    To Murchison Air Services Pty Ltd, Perth Airport WA keeping c/r VH-FDS.

    5 July 1971

    To Trans-West Air Charter Pty Ltd, Perth WA keeping c/r VH-FDS.

    February 1972


    Photographer: Geoff Goodall
    Notes: DHA-3 Drover 3 VH-FDS was based at Perth for five years after it was purchased by Murchison Air Services in 1969. Pictured in February 1972 now with Air-Rep Service, used to deliver supplies to remote properties in the north of WA

    28 February 1972

    To Air-Rep Service Pty Ltd, Perth WA keeping c/r VH-FDS.

    July 1973

    To Island Aviation Pty Ltd, Smithton Tas keeping c/r VH-FDS.

    30 July 1973

    Damaged.
    Crashed on landing Trefoil Island, Tasmania.

    5 September 1989

    To Queensland Air Museum, Caloundra, Queensland.
    View the Location Dossier

    July 2007

    Restoration started.
    At Queensland Air Museum.

    29 January 2017


    Photographer: Arthur Scarf
    Notes: At Queensland Air Museum, Caloundra


    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier was started by a contributor.
    An preliminary review of the submitted data is pending.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.

    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Internet Sources
    Aviation History Site by Geoff Goodall

    Individual Contributors
    Terry Fletcher

    Tell Others About this Airframe Dossier
    Forum Link: [URL=https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=171615][IMG]/home/users/web/b1393/nf.aerialvisuals/public_html/AV/Support/Logo_20x20.jpg[/IMG]Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - de Havilland Australia DHA-3-1 Drover, c/n 5007, c/r VH-FDS[/URL]
    Direct Link: https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=171615

    Copyright 1993-2025 AerialVisuals.ca
    The Aerial Visuals pages are best viewed with a screen at least 800 pixels wide.
    In case you are wondering Aerial Visuals is a huge fan Google Chrome. If you do not have Chrome installed why not?
    Aerial Visuals requires cookies and Javascript to function correctly. Please ensure these features are enabled in your browser.
    Aerial Visuals is powered by Netfirms.