On final at Bendigo in the "Whale", with Phil Vabre at the controls. What a great day - spotting in Tullamarine in the morning, shooting GA planes in Bendigo in the afternoon. A bit of flying, a bit of driving, and lots of great memories and photos. Many thanks, Phil!

At the Avalon Airshow 2009, Trade Day Three. This aircraft, affectionately called 'The Whale', belongs to Phil Vabre, another AirHistory.net photographer. He is seen here pre-flighting his Whale before a flight to Bendigo. Phil, who is also an air traffic controller, spent most of his time working in the control tower. He was one of those people behind the scenes who made things at the airshow happen, and I would like to thank him for that

Heading home, somewhere in southern New South Wales. You can make out a cloud front ahead near the Victorian border. The bright yellow crop is canola, a lot of which has been planted this year.

Isn't there something missing? Running up the Whale to check the fuel system is clear of water and to warm the oil prior to a change.

Finally a shot of my own aircraft! My partner is arriving home in 'The Whale' after she was away 3 months for maintenance. You can clearly see the characteristic 'bump' of the C175 at the front of the cowling, caused by the gearbox of the Continental GO-300.

The Whale at Ballarat.

Taken en route Penfield to Horsham. Pyrenees mountains in the background - not as impressive as the real Pyrenees!

Built 1959 & allocated N6796E but ntu. Shipped to Australia & assembled by Cessna agents, Rex Aviation, Bankstown. Registered VH-RFU 2 Feb 1960 in Perth. Sold 15 Feb 1961 to Royal Aero Club of WA. Traded in to Rex & sold to private owner in Meekatharra 9 Jul 65. Sold to SA Cessna agents Rossair, Parafield, 19 Oct 72 and on-sold to private owner Port Lincoln. Various private owners in SA until sold to the late Mike Valentine 6 Dec 2000 & based Penfield, Vic. Half share acquired by me 2002.

This is what an annual inspection looks like! Sitting in the back of the Royal Vic hangar - at least the old girl isn't in 'death corner' this year!

VH-RFU was registered in February 1960.