Dates

Event

1934

Constructed as a C-30A.
Maker: A.V. Roe (and) Co., (Avro), Newton Heath, Manchester, England (under licence from the Cierva Autogiro Co. Ltd

From 14 June 1935 to 1942

To Mr. Andrew Thyne Reid with new c/r VH-USR.

From 1942 to 1944

The Autogiro was then impressed by the RAAF and assigned to the Army Inventions Directorate for another military project between about 1942-4 at Laverton Aerodrome, Melbourne, called Project Skyward. This involved the development of a flying jeep called a fleep constructed from two other cannibalised Autogiros. The purpose of this aircraft was to provide transport for the army in Kokoda, New Guinea, as it was impossible to drive from Port Moresby to Kokoda and parachute-dropping the jeeps was considered too risky.

25 September 1948

To Mr. Andrew Thyne Reid keeping c/r VH-USR.

9 August 1949

Last flight.

After Thyne Reids death in the 1960s, his widow donated the Autogiro to the Royal Aero Club at Bankstown Airport who used it as a static exhibit on air-fair days.

1979

To Power House Museum, Ultimo, Sydney, New South Wales.

From 1979 to 1984

The sale specified the Autogiro had to go on immediate display. As this was not possible at the Museum at that time, it was placed on loan to Drages Airworld, at Wodonga, Victoria, between 1979 to 1984.

1984

To Power House Museum, Ultimo, Sydney, New South Wales.
View the Location Dossier

Restoration completed.
In the early 1990s the Autogiro was restored with a grant from the Thyne Reid Education Trust No.1 to its appearance when it came out of service in August 1951.

September 2015

Photographer: Arthur Scarf
Notes: 2015 photo - displayed at The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney NSW