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HUDSON COLOUR SCHEMES

 

Adastra Aerial Surveys operated a total of seven Hudsons from 1951 until the company closed in 1973. During this time, the Hudsons carried three basic colour schemes which can be categorised as follows:

The Grey Scheme
1951
to
c. 1959
The Green Scheme
c. 1959
to
c. 1970
The Orange Scheme
c. 1970
to
1973


NOTE: The change from the Grey Scheme to the Green Scheme was earlier believed to have taken place circa 1963 but recent photographic evidence confirms that at least one Hudson (VH-AGX) was wearing the Green Scheme as early as 1959. The above table has been amended to reflect this new information.

In addition to these colour schemes, the two Hudsons acquired from John Fairfax & Sons (VH-SMM & VH-SMO) carried other variations which will be discussed separately.

All images on this page are linked to larger versions.

 

The Grey Scheme

 

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VH-AGO with grey tail and Lockheed emblem which appears to be black and white.
Photo: Grulke Collection		 VH-AGG with white tail still retaining the Lockheed emblem but apparently in black only.
Photo: John Hopton
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VH-AGX with the Adastra emblem on the nose.
Photo: Ed Coates		 VH-AGX with grey tail and Lockheed emblem, evidently in black. Photo: Grulke Collection
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VH-AGS soon after its conversion for aerial survey in 1956. Photo: Ed Coates An exceptionally rare colour photo of VH-AGS in the Grey Scheme. Photo: Jack Howard
The Adastra emblem which was carried on both sides of the nose in the early years of the grey scheme. In the above colour image of VH-AGS, the Adastra emblem appears to have been in black and gold. This emblem was accompanied by the inscription:
Adastra Airways Pty. Ltd.
Air Survey Unit
No. ?
The exact tie-up between aircraft registrations and Unit Numbers is presently unknown.


Adastra's first Hudson, VH-AGG, was test flown on 30th March 1951 after its survey conversion. When it entered service it was painted in the Grey Scheme as follows:

Fuselage Grey with white top and black cheat line. Black anti-glare panel.
Wings Grey
Tail Group Grey (later white)
Cowlings Black scallop. In the above colour image of VH-AGS the black scallop is outlined in red.
See Cowling Adornments
Markings ADASTRA AERIAL SURVEYS on fuselage in black with grey shadowing.
Registration on rear fuselage in black.
Registration under left wing in black.
Registration on top of right wing in black.
ADASTRA under right wing in black.
There were no markings on top of the left wing.
Lockheed emblem outboard on fins. Appears to be black and gold in the above colour image of VH-AGS.
The Adastra winged emblem was carried on both sides of the nose in the early years of the grey scheme. Appears to be black and gold in the above colour image of VH-AGS.
Applicable VH-AGG, VH-AGO, VH-AGS, VH-AGX
Variations VH-AGG carried the name "Frank Follett" on the left side of the nose (VH-AGG was the only Adastra Hudson to carry a name).



The Green Scheme

 

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VH-AGX at Essendon in December 1961 with white tail and no Lockheed emblem. Note the elaborate cowling markings in red, white and black. The registration is now outlined in white.
Earlier it was believed that the aircraft was wearing the grey scheme in this view, but it is now known that VH-AGX was wearing the green scheme as early as 1959.
Photo: Chris O'Neill
VH-AGX at Mascot in December 1962. Note the dual pitot heads and the retired Adastra Anson in the background. Also note that the aircraft does not carry ADASTRA under the right wing at this time. Earlier it was believed that the aircraft was wearing the grey scheme in this view, but it is now known that VH-AGX was wearing the green scheme as early as 1959.
Photo: John Hopton
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VH-AGS with elaborate cowling markings in black and white. It is not known when or where this photo was taken but it is possible that it was soon after the aircraft was first painted in the Green Scheme. Photo: Jack Howard
VH-AGS in Westralian Aerial Surveys markings. Earlier it was believed that the aircraft was wearing the grey scheme in this view, but it is now believed that VH-AGS was wearing the green scheme by the time it appeared with Westralian Aerial Surveys titles.
Photo: Chris O'Neill
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VH-AGS at Essendon in November 1963.
Note that the elaborate cowling markings have been replaced by a simple black leading edge.
Photo: John Hopton
VH-AGX at Mascot in May 1971.
Note that the elaborate cowling markings have been replaced by a simple black leading edge.
Photo: Mike Madden
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VH-AGE at Tennant Creek on 22nd September 1966.
Two days later the aeroplane was destroyed in a fatal crash.
Photo: Ian Smart


By 1959, Adastra's Hudsons were noted wearing a green colour scheme. This scheme was almost identical to the modified Grey Scheme but with the grey replaced by a teal green colour. It is claimed that this shade of green was chosen to mask fuel leaks on the wings! Another view is that the green colour was first used on the Percival Prince VH-AGF as early as 1957. Please refer to: It's Not Easy Being Green


Fuselage Green with white top and black cheat line. Black anti-glare panel.
Wings Green
Tail Group White
Cowlings VH-AGS and VH-AGX initially wore typical Lockheed embellishments on the cowlings but these were subsequently replaced by simple black leading edges.
See Cowling Adornments
Markings ADASTRA AERIAL SURVEYS on fuselage in black with grey shadowing.
Registration on rear fuselage in black outlined in white.
Registration under left wing in black outlined in white.
Registration on top of right wing in black outlined in white.
ADASTRA under right wing in black outlined in white.
There were no markings on top of the left wing.
It would appear that the Lockheed emblem was not carried as part of the Green Scheme.
Applicable VH-AGE, VH-AGS, VH-AGX
Variations Colour photographs of VH-AGX taken in 1959 confirm that the wing registrations were red. It would appear from these photos that there was no ADASTRA under the right wing (certainly it was not there in December 1962). There is also a suggestion that the fuselage registrations might have been red. The registrations on wings and fuselage were outlined in white.
From approximately 1959 until approximately 1962, VH-AGS operated with the titles of WESTRALIAN AERIAL SURVEYS (an Adastra subsidiary).
By the late fifties/early sixties, VH-AGS and VH-AGX carried typical Lockheed embellishments on the cowlings. On VH-AGS these were black and white and on VH-AGX they were red, white and black.
VH-AGX was photographed in December 1961 (see above) with the fuselage and under-wing registration outlined in white.
VH-AGX was photographed in December 1962 (see above) without ADASTRA under the right wing. VH-AGE was initially operated in a natural metal scheme with a white top with a black cheat line and a white tail group.
ADASTRA AERIAL SURVEYS on fuselage in black with grey shadowing.
Registration on rear fuselage in black (may have been blue earlier). Photo
VH-AGE was soon painted in the Green Scheme.

 

The Orange Scheme

 

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VH-AGS at Mascot in February 1972.
Photo: Ron Cuskelly
VH-AGX at Mascot in April 1973.
Photo: Ron Cuskelly
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VH-AGJ at Mascot in December 1970.
Photo: Ron Cuskelly
VH-AGP at Moorabbin in November 1976.
Photo: Mike Madden


In May 1970, VH-AGJ was noted in Adastra's hangar at Mascot being repainted in a new colour scheme. Although this new scheme was predominantly blue/grey, it has been characterised by this writer as the Orange Scheme to avoid confusion with the earlier Grey Scheme. By the time Adastra ceased flying in 1973, all four remaining Hudsons were wearing this scheme.

Fuselage Blue/Grey with white top and white cheat line separated by an orange band, at its widest the same height as the cabin windows, extending the length of the fuselage, tapering off at the nose and tail. Black anti-glare panel. The cabin door was outlined in red.
Wings Blue/Grey with orange and white bands on the tips.
Tail Group White tailplane and elevator. Fins and rudders were orange.
Cowlings Black leading edges.
See Cowling Adornments
Markings ADASTRA AERIAL SURVEYS on fuselage in black with grey shadowing.
Registration on fins/rudders in black outlined in white.
Registration under left wing in orange outlined in white.
Registration on top of right wing in orange outlined in white.
ADASTRA under right wing in orange outlined in white.
There were no markings on top of the left wing apart from the wing-tip bands.
Applicable VH-AGJ, VH-AGP, VH-AGS, VH-AGX
Variations VH-AGP was noted in the Adastra hangar at Mascot in April 1974 with the cowlings and the forward part of the engine nacelles unpainted. The leading edges of the cowls were black. (See 1976 photo above).



The John Fairfax Hudsons

These two Hudsons, VH-SMM and VH-SMO came to Adastra on lease from John Fairfax and Sons. Both were already converted for aerial survey work.

VH-SMM / VH-AGJ

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VH-AGJ (formerly VH-SMM) at Mascot in December 1969. Photo: Mike Madden


Fuselage Silver with black anti-glare panel. Although this aeroplane had earlier operated in polished bare metal, it is believed that it was painted silver (as opposed to natural metal) by the time it entered service with Adastra.
Wings Silver.
Tail Group Silver.
Cowlings Silver. Later acquired black leading edges.
See Cowling Adornments
Markings ADASTRA AERIAL SURVEYS on fuselage in black with grey shadowing.
Registration on rear fuselage in black.
Registration under left wing in black.
Registration on top of right wing in black.
There were no markings on top of the left wing or under the right wing.
Applicable VH-SMM (re-registered VH-AGJ on 14th December 1966).
Variations During 1970 the aircraft was painted in the Orange Scheme. It never carried the Green Scheme. See Mike Mike's Enigmatic Proboscis

 

VH-SMO / VH-AGP

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VH-SMO at Mascot in December 1966.
Photo: Ron Cuskelly


Fuselage Natural metal with white top and red cheat line (remnants of East-West Airlines livery). The EWA Aerial Survey emblem was carried on the nose in red, white and blue. Black anti-glare panel. Soon after entering service with Adastra, all natural metal surfaces were painted silver. The red cheat line progressively faded away until it was eventually painted over altogether.
Wings Natural metal later painted silver.
Tail Group Natural metal later painted silver.
Cowlings Natural metal later painted silver. Later acquired black leading edges.
See Cowling Adornments
Markings Registration outboard on fin and rudder in red (VH-SMO) later black (VH-AGP).
Lockheed emblem outboard on fins. (Retained as VH-AGP but removed with the Orange Scheme).
Registration under left wing in red (VH-SMO) later black (VH-AGP).
Registration on top of right wing in red (VH-SMO) later black (VH-AGP).
There were no markings on top of the left wing or under the right wing.
Applicable VH-SMO (re-registered VH-AGP on 24th June 1966).
Variations The aircraft was painted in the Orange Scheme in the early seventies. This aeroplane never carried the Green Scheme. It should be noted that this aircraft never carried Adastra titles until it was painted in the Orange Scheme!

 


Special thanks to Tony Arbon for sharing with us some of the magnificent images
from the slide collection of the late Mike Madden.


Issue Date Remarks
7 02FEB05
Added a link to a report that the Adastra Green colour first appeared on the Prince VH-AGF.
6 13FEB03
Revised the details of the Grey Scheme based on evidence from Jack Howard's colour photo which has been added to this page. In this photo, the Lockheed and Adastra emblems appear to have been in black and gold and the cowling scallops are outlined in red. Other recently discovered photos confirm that the Adastra emblem was carried on both sides of the nose.