The Last Victa Airtourer

The records usually quote the number 168 as the number of Airtourers produced by Victa. Logically, number 168 would be the last Victa produced. That aircraft was VH-RKL, on order from Rockhampton Aero Club. However, a decision to change 168 from an AT100 to an AT115 meant it was finished before 167 (presumably because of a wait for the 100 engine). Number 167 was on order from Latrobe Valley Aero Club - the most loyal Airtourer operator on the planet. It was therefore fitting that the last Victa to be completed in Milperra, a 100, went to LVAC as VH-MOH. (LVAC's first Airtourer had been MOA, c/n 3.) MOH is still on the Australian register, with the same registration, owned by Greg Peters.

Number 165 had been completed, but was not painted and had not test flown. It was completed in New Zealand, but kept its Victa constructor's number. (See Australian Flying, December 1967.)

Numbers 169 to 172 were at different stages of completion, and were finished at AESL. 169 and 170 kept their Victa numbers, but 171 and 172 became AESL 501 and 502.

Was MOH the last Victa? Certainly, it was the last of the Airtourers to leave the Victa production line. But 170 (ZK-COZ for Otago Aero Club) is also a good candidate for the "last Victa" honour. This 115 crashed on 25 March 1978 in Canterbury, NZ, and was destroyed.

Number 172/502 became ZK-CPA; the last Airtourer started by Victa. It crashed in 1979 near Wanganui.