dehavillandvampire

This is the 2-seat training version of the Vampire. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Vampire Forward of the air intakes, the fuselage was made of wood.

Outstanding image 🌟

I gather the pilot was F/Lt C.D. Murphy, DFC...he was evidently known as Des...

trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/212200987 - the Brisbane Telegraph, 18th July, 1949...report on Murphy's first record breaking flight from Sydney to Brisbane on 18th July, 1949...per the Bris Tele, the time was 70 minutes...

trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/27583304 - SMH, 21st July, 1949...report on Murphy's second record breaking flight...this time on the return leg from Brisbane to Sydney on 20th July, 1949...per the SMH, the time was 62 minutes...

I haven't managed to discover who made the first non-stop flight between Sydney and Brisbane (either direction)...in 1921 Bert Hinkler flew his Avro non-stop from Sydney to Bundaberg in 8hrs 40mins...

In December 1926 Edgar Percival with passenger George Cutts flew non-stop from Sydney to Brisbane in a DH.9 in 4hrs 35mins...

trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16340080 - SMH, 14th December, 1926...brief report on Percival's flight

Test pilot Geoffrey de Havilland?

TG278 was an English Electric-built Vampire, so probably not.