Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Commercial airliner

Power Plant:

One 261 kw (350 hp) Rolls Royce Eagle IX twelve-cylinder VEE liquid-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

In 1921 the Larkin Aircraft Supply Co Ltd (LASCO) placed an order for an aircraft with Handasyde Aircraft Co Ltd. Design of the aircraft was carried out, and the aircraft completed by Air Navigation and Engineering Co Ltd of Addletone, Surrey, the order being for the construction of a four passenger and mail carrying aircraft for a service between Adelaide, SA and Sydney, NSW. Known as the Handasyde H-2, the aircraft was a high-wing cantilever monoplane with an enclosed cabin for the passengers and an open cockpit for the pilot. The H-2 was built at Brooklands in Surrey and made its first flight on 9 November 1922. Later the contract was transferred to ANEC, and the Company built three ANEC III unequal span biplanes fitted out to carry a pilot and six passengers.

The first ANEC III was flown on 23 March 1926. Later it and the other two aircraft were shipped to Melbourne, VIC these aircraft being ‘Diamond Bird’ G-AUEZ (c/n 1), ‘Saturn Bird”  G-AUFC (c/n 2), and ” Love Bird’ G-AUGF (c/n 3). These aircraft were each issued with a British Certificate of Airworthiness in the name of the Larkin Aircraft Supply Co Ltd prior to being dismantled and shipped to Melbourne. On arrival they were erected and entered service with Australian Aerial Services. Well known Australian aviator, Captain A H Affleck, in his book ‘The Wandering Years’, referred to the first aircraft G-AUEZ only being able to cruise at 89 km/h (55 mph), being tail heavy with a full load, and being very difficult to taxi or manoeuvre on the ground.

G-AUEZ was first registered on 16 August 1926 but on 16 March 1927 was hit whilst on the ground by de Havilland DH.60 Moth VH-UAF and was badly damaged. It had the Certificate of Airworthiness renewed after repairs on 5 October 1927 and continued in service with a 280 kw (375 hp) Rolls Royce Eagle VIII engine until November 1929 when it was fitted with a 342 kw (460 hp) Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar. On 11 August 1930 the Certificate of Airworthiness expired and was not renewed. It became VH-UEZ on 31 August 1930 and ownership was transferred to Australian Aerial Services Ltd of Melbourne. The registration lapsed on 9 June 1932.

G-AUFC was registered to Larkin Aircraft Supply Co Ltd of Melbourne on 21 May 1927 but was badly damaged at Hay, NSW on 27 December 1927, the Certificate of Airworthiness being suspended on 9 January 1928. It later received some modifications and became known as a Larkin Lascowl.

G-AUGF was first registered to Larkin Aircraft Supply Co Ltd of Melbourne on 15 August 1927, becoming VH-UGF on 31 August 1930. Ownership was transferred to Australian Aerial Services Ltd of Melbourne on 10 June 1931.

The ANEC III saw many years of service, one G-AUEZ being involved in a flight through Mildura, VIC, Oodnadatta, SA, Charlotte Waters and Hermannsburg, NT on behalf of Australian Railways. In later years they operated from the Coode Island aerodrome near Melbourne.

Later again two G-AUFC and G-AUGF were re-built to seat eleven, the fuselage being lengthened, and being fitted with the Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar supercharged radial engine. In this form they became known as the Larkin Lascowl. Two, now VH-UEZ and VH-UGF, saw extensive service for years, operating on the Melbourne to Sydney route until VH-UGF crashed and was destroyed by fire at Temora, NSW on 14 July 1931. VH-UEZ was scrapped in June 1932 after the registration lapsed. VH-UFC was broken up in May 1929 after the Certificate of Airworthiness was suspended on 9 January 1928.