Ansett Flying Boat Services

[Jackbr]

I have a few questions about the operations of Ansett's Sandringham Flying Boat fleet.

An older thread on this site made it clear that the pilots who flew these aircraft were employed by Ansett Airlines of Australia, with some if not all endorsed on other aircraft, eg the F-27. Does anyone know if the Hostesses on these flights were employed specfically by the Flying Boat division, or if they also operated "mainline" flights for the airline?

Also, what times did the aircraft depart/arrive at Rose Bay to Lord Howe. There are a number of photographs showing the aircraft arriving and departing during the day, however were there also evening services?

One interesting thing I noticed was that VH-BRC 'Beachcomber' featured the traditional Flying Boat style cabin layout - train style compartment seating with seats facing eachother. VH-BRF 'Islander', the ex-RNZAF Sunderland coversion, had 4 abreast seating on the main deck similar to the F-27 layout. Does anyone who may have flown on these aircraft remember the different cabin layouts?

If anyone has any general memories of the Ansett Sandringham's at all, please share!

[renfrew]

I have a timetable for 1956 which also has Sandringham flights to Hobart,Grafton,Brisbane and Hayman Island.
Every departure to Lord Howe seemed to be at a different time eg 0945/1145/0300/0415/0845/1115.

[Corsairoz]

I take care of VH-BRC during the weekends at SolentSky museum in Southampton.

Let me know if you need any custom pictures taken and I'll snap away and post them here.

For example: Upper Cabin interior as exhibited....(The tables were removed long ago). Does anyone have a similar photo with the tables? :

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u249/corsairoz/SH100585.jpg

and this is Beachcomber dominating the Museum.....

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u249/corsairoz/SH100589.jpg

Cheers

Corsairoz

[Herod]

I was down at the museum years ago, and managed to sit in the LHS of "Beachcomber". The closest I ever got to what must have been one of the best jobs in aviation.

[Runaround Valve]

The reason for the odd departure times from Sydney to Lord Howe was that the aircraft had to land at Lord Howe at high tide. Can anyone expand on this, ???

[dhavillandpilot]

High Tide???????????

VERY VERY LARGE CORAL HEADS IN THE LAGOON.

[Jackbr]

This shows the upper deck in '74

VH-BRC Short Sandringham (http://www.aussieairliners.org/shortfb/vh-brc/2545.459.html)

No tables visible, they may have been removed for the Antilles sale. Did Ansett operate them with the tables?

-BRF has standard fold-down seat back tables

[emeritus]

The flying boats were operated by Airlines of NSW and not AAoA. These companies were subsiduries of Ansett Transport Industries. The crews, both tech and cabin were ANSW and flew both the Sandrighams and the F27 and as mentioned previously the schedule was based around high water at LHI

Emeritus

[Corsairoz]

I just found this in a Lord Howe Island document.

'Providing the last scheduled flying boat service in the world, the majestic Sandringhams 'Pacific Chieftain', 'Islander' and 'Beachcomber', each able to carry 42 passengers, took off from Rose Bay in Sydney Harbour to touch down in Lord Howe's beautiful lagoon some three hours later. Flights were timed to arrive at the Island one hour before high tide to ensure take-off on the full tide; this meant that departure from Rose Bay often occurred in the early hours of the morning, seeming to add to the romance and drama of the trip.'

The source is here: (A fascinating website)

http://www.lordhoweisland.info/library/transport.pdf

C

[aussieairliners]

Gentlemen.

The Ansett Flying Boats have been my passion since I was a young lad. I have just put all my knowledge and photos of VH-BRC 'Beachcomber' onto an eBook - that is a CD that you can read on your computer. The files are PDF allowing everyone to read them irrespective of the platform they use. A lot of the questions you're raised in this thread are treated - including a few incidents that may astound you. Included are some images of old Airlines of NSW timetables showing the departure times on the boats. I've also just acquired a photo of the BOAC pilot who was in command of Beachcomber's delivery flight to Auckland in 1947 - from his son. The 'Beachcomber' eBook CD has currently got around 196 pages of text and images.

I am just about ready to start writing a similar eBook on 'Islander' - and that will be followed by 'Pacific Chieftain'.

[Aye Ess]

http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a401/alan_spears/th_sunderlandlhipp.jpg?t=1299737929

This is a painting I did of 'Islander' departing Lord Howe Island. A very good book about LHI & it's flying boat history is "The Flying Boat Days" by Peter A.R. Phillipps, who lives & works on the island.

The art is acrylic on stretched canvas 24'' x 30'' (61cm x 76cm)

[Aye Ess]

http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a401/alan_spears/sunderlandlhipp.jpg?t=1299738714

Sorry,here's a better picture....bit of finger trouble

[Jackbr]

For those interested check out this section of aussieairliners.org

Short Flying Boats Australia (http://www.aussieairliners.org/shortbros/s25.html)

features information and many photographs of the Australian registered civil Flying Boats, including the Ansett Sandringhams

I was also directed to this page

Airline Timetables - Air NSW (http://www.aussieairliners.org/time%20tables/airofnsw.html)

Which is complete with the Lord Howe timetable and an ad for the Flying Boat

[wakefield]

See link here

YouTube - Rare footage - 1970's Flying Boat action (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0Gqvz5Vbxs&feature=related)

[Old Hairy]

Wakefield. Thank you Sir. You have made an old flying boat man very happy.Really enjoyed that.Made my day

[wakefield]

OH. My pleasure. Sadly, something we'll never see again!

[PinkHarrier]

Sorry about the quality. This photo taken 28 Nov 1974 shows the Ansett Sandringham at Rose Bay just prior to its last "internal" flight before it was flown to the Caribbean. It was bought, I think, by the pilot husband of the film star Maureen O'Hara.

http://www.rcyachts.net/oziom/Leica/Solent%20VH-BRC%20at%20Rose%20bay%20sydney%20ex%20Ansett%20last%20day%20 in%20Australia%2028%20Nov%201974-shrunk.jpg

[Aye Ess]

Indeed you are quite correct PinkHarrier. The aircraft was VH-BRC 'Beachcomber' . The husband is Captain Charles Blair.

[Planemike]

Oh, to have had a flight in one of those truly wonderful aircraft........!!!

Planemike

[dhavillandpilot]

Fond memories of going with my father, one of the Sandringham Captains for ANSW out to Rose Bay. I actually got to meet Charles Blair and maureen O'Hara when they took delivery.

[Opssys]

A Caz Caswell picture when VP-LVE Short S.25 Sandringham ' Southern Cross' of Antilles Air Boats visited the UK (and Eire) in 1976:
http://www.airpixbycaz.co.uk/cazsite/galleries/avgen/tlw/part01/tlw09-vplve.jpg


To see the Web Page with notes: They Like Water Part 1 - VP-LVE (http://www.airpixbycaz.co.uk/cazsite/aviation/avgen/tlw/part01/tlw09.html)

[Jackbr]

Impressive footage of former VH-BRF "Islander"

YouTube - Le Porc-épic volant

[Rollingthunder]

j0Gqvz5Vbxs

Sorry bout crap music