Further to our posts about vintage transport on banknotes, a customer has pointed out that the Australian $20 note (worth about the same in $US) also has a vintage aircraft on it.
Originally G-EBIW, this De Havilland 50A was imported in October 1924 as G-AUER for Qantas who named it Hermes. It was used as an aerial ambulance as can be seen by the small Maltese Cross under the pilot's cockpit. In 1934 -UER was sold to Rockhampton Aerial Services Ltd. It had two (at least) accidents including a forced landing on a beach 21 miles north of Bundaberg in May 1934 and another in the sea off Caloundra in December 1935. In the latter, although the actual landing did not completely destroy the aircraft, the pounding surf did, some three days later, and -UER was stricken from the register on 3 January 1936.
The other side of the note has a sailing ship which we assume is Captain Cook's Endeavour.
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