Ah- flying boats
Wonderful stuff
For an evocative half hour chat about flying boats- particularly the latter half of the programme, listen again via a log on to BBC Radio 4's web site, go to E for Excess Baggage, and then scroll down the right hand panel of programme picks. Just under half way down ( i think) you should find last November's Excess Baggage broadcast on Seaplanes and Flying boats - with some Africa memories.
Secondhand copies of Phillips Sims book about flying boats are easily found - Adventurous Empires. Well wroth buying.
Ah - and those collpasible sleeper type/day seats were on the C class craft forced into RAF service- original fittings.