WT:-
and what about the crew? - a long way down if one slipped!
I think it was a feature of the Sunderland that the leading edges folded down to present a working platform for access to, and servicing of, the systems that ran behind them. There was also provision for the attachment of servicing platforms around the engines with the cowlings opened (and removed?). I would think that these were useful even if the aircraft had been hauled out of the water, but much of this work had perforce to be done whilst the aircraft was afloat and tethered to a buoy. When seas became too rough and winds to high for restraint by buoys or anchors, the aircraft had to be manned and taxied into wind until conditions improved. A special hard lying allowance was payable in this event. One of the first amendments for me to carry out was the removal of the entire section relating to this allowance in QR's. The writing was on the wall (and indeed already being wiped!) for RAF Flying Boats, the galleons of the skies!