Postcard: monoplane sitting on ground. Man in three piece suit on right hand front of photo. Written on bottom of card in white ' Mr. Norman C. Spratt, Deperdussin Monoplane flying at Mendon'aviation, civilian, deperdussin monoplane, basil watson, norman c. spratt, deperdussin monoplane. mendon.

Postcard: sepia coloured card. Monoplane on ground, wire wheels, single propellor. Five men in uniform and two in suits standing in front of plane. Written on bottom in white ' Deperdussin Monoplane 100 H.P. Gnome' Written in corner ' Fuller, Amesbury'aviation, civilian, deperdussin monoplane gnome, basil watson, monoplane, aeroplane

In the early days of flying in France, Armand Deperdussin and his aircraft designer, M. Bechereau, formed the Societe Pour Appareils Deperdussin, and designed and produced Deperdussin monoplanes of advanced design for the period. In 1912, the Australian Government ordered from the British Deperdussin Aeroplane Company, two single-seat trainers, Type A with 35hp Anzani Y-type three cylinder engine. These two aircraft were in the first batch of four aircraft ordered by the Commonwealth Government (the other two aircraft were BE-type biplanes). The recorded cost of the Deperdussin was 480 pounds each. The serial number CFS 5 identifies this aircraft as the 5th Australian Military aircraft. It is the oldest existing Australian aircraft. either military or civilian. Rectangular shaped glass covered picture frame with photo of the plane and pilot.RAAF AIRCRAFT 1921-1981. FIRST FOREBEAR The 1912 Deperdussin was the first military monoplane ordered for the RAAFs ancestor, the Central Flying School, Point cook.This historic aircraft is retained at the Australian War Memorial as a symbol of the nation's airpower genesis.deperdussin monoplane, australian military aircraft, lara r.s.l. australian flying corps, 1912 aircraft.