RAF Oban, the Sunderland, and the Duke of Kent

[Wander00]

I42 - Thanks - will do - and a bit of glider flying too over the years

[Good Business Sense]

Originally Posted by India Four Two

Wander00,

Floatplanes have an advantage over flying boats in glassy water takeoffs. Once you are on the step, you can use the ailerons to “lever” one float out of the water, thereby immediately halving the hydrodynamic drag.

.... but tilting the lift vector !

[brakedwell]

My first flight was in a Sunderland during a 10 day CCF summer camp at Pembroke Dock in 1953. One of my flights involved a trip to Shorts at Belfast to pick up spares before setting off for a six hour patrol over the Western Approaches. We landed in Belfast Lough and taxied a long way before tying up next to the dockside near the factory. I do remember the take off seemed to take for ever, the sea was choppy and the water being sucked up through the props made a hell of a racket.

[India Four Two]

GBS,

True, but only a few degrees and a lot less than a wing-down crosswind landing.

[ViscountFan]

It's probably been mentioned somewhere before, but the Museum of Hydroaviation at Biscarosse is well worth a visit. Having said that, last time I was there I did mention in the visitors' book that I found it surprising there was no mention whatsoever of the Saunders-Roe Princess!

[Wander00]

VF - visited last year - interesting place. Cannot recall a Princess reference, but there was a link with my old school, Harrow County, as there is plaque commemorating the winning of the Schneider Trophy in 1931 by the then Flt Lt John Boothman, an old boy of the school. The event is commemorated by a stained glass window over the main entrance of what is now Harrow High School