Journalists and a cunning new way to land a flying boat
The best place to see big Short 'boats is at MOTAT in Auckland, New Zealand, because that is the only place you will see two of them at the same location; a S.45A Solent Mk.4 and a S.25 Sunderland MR.5.
yellowtriumph
A bit before the Princess flying boats but Flatus Veteranus posted a wonderfully descriptive and long account of a trip he made as a boy from Poole Harbour to Rangoon in 1940 in PPRuNe here:
RMA Caledonia - PPRuNe Forums
He travelled by Imperial Airways flying-boat RMA Caledonia.
As is patently obvious I'm no expert on any of this, but I have had my interest re-lit, do you know of any interesting links where I can have a great big dollop of nostalgia of these things? - in particular the Princess flying boats?
RMA Caledonia - PPRuNe Forums
He travelled by Imperial Airways flying-boat RMA Caledonia.
Yellowtriumph - we're of pretty similar vintage then as I was 12 in 1964.
My memory is of grey too and, although I didn't know the remaining boats were ferried to Hythe, it seems they would have been gone by then.
I can't compete with NZ but we did see two in nearly the same location in 1989. We visited what was then the Southampton Hall of Aviation and were shown round their Sandringham. The guide mentioned that what is now Kermit Weeks' Sandringham/Sunderland was afloat at Hythe so we departed, sharpish!
We went out to the end of the jetty and it was moored out in the river. Shortly afterwards a group of people went out to it in an inflatable but despite waiting for some time sadly nothing more happened.
If anything, my other half was more disappointed than me as she loves flying boats, especially Sunderlands and C or G class. Catalinas are acceptable but not the same.
A Google search for "Flying Empires" should find a link for a free book download as a pdf.
My memory is of grey too and, although I didn't know the remaining boats were ferried to Hythe, it seems they would have been gone by then.
I can't compete with NZ but we did see two in nearly the same location in 1989. We visited what was then the Southampton Hall of Aviation and were shown round their Sandringham. The guide mentioned that what is now Kermit Weeks' Sandringham/Sunderland was afloat at Hythe so we departed, sharpish!
We went out to the end of the jetty and it was moored out in the river. Shortly afterwards a group of people went out to it in an inflatable but despite waiting for some time sadly nothing more happened.
If anything, my other half was more disappointed than me as she loves flying boats, especially Sunderlands and C or G class. Catalinas are acceptable but not the same.
A Google search for "Flying Empires" should find a link for a free book download as a pdf.
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Yellowtriumph - we're of pretty similar vintage then as I was 12 in 1964.
My memory is of grey too and, although I didn't know the remaining boats were ferried to Hythe, it seems they would have been gone by then.
I can't compete with NZ but we did see two in nearly the same location in 1989. We visited what was then the Southampton Hall of Aviation and were shown round their Sandringham. The guide mentioned that what is now Kermit Weeks' Sandringham/Sunderland was afloat at Hythe so we departed, sharpish!
We went out to the end of the jetty and it was moored out in the river. Shortly afterwards a group of people went out to it in an inflatable but despite waiting for some time sadly nothing more happened.
If anything, my other half was more disappointed than me as she loves flying boats, especially Sunderlands and C or G class. Catalinas are acceptable but not the same.
My memory is of grey too and, although I didn't know the remaining boats were ferried to Hythe, it seems they would have been gone by then.
I can't compete with NZ but we did see two in nearly the same location in 1989. We visited what was then the Southampton Hall of Aviation and were shown round their Sandringham. The guide mentioned that what is now Kermit Weeks' Sandringham/Sunderland was afloat at Hythe so we departed, sharpish!
We went out to the end of the jetty and it was moored out in the river. Shortly afterwards a group of people went out to it in an inflatable but despite waiting for some time sadly nothing more happened.
If anything, my other half was more disappointed than me as she loves flying boats, especially Sunderlands and C or G class. Catalinas are acceptable but not the same.
I suspect they also have the winning Schneider supermarine plane there that used to hang from the ceiling in the ticket hall at the entrance to the Southampton pier. (Kuti’s curry house now,). My mind is dancing with boyhood memories now, thanks to all for your links and info.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Going back in time a little, Sir Alan Cobham carried out a round-Africa survey in 1927-8, in a Singapore 'boat. His book "Twenty-thousand miles in a Flying Boat" is a good read. It's available in paperback from the river shop.
Last edited by Herod; 30th Nov 2017 at 08:17. Reason: Aircraft type
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On BBC ‘South Today’ yesterday:
“.....Well what makes them a ‘flying boat’? The answer to that is that they are a seaplane with fixed wings, they have a hull, and cannot land on land.......”.
Has anyone ever seen a seaplane without fixed wings?
“.....Well what makes them a ‘flying boat’? The answer to that is that they are a seaplane with fixed wings, they have a hull, and cannot land on land.......”.
Has anyone ever seen a seaplane without fixed wings?
I suspect they also have the winning Schneider supermarine plane there that used to hang from the ceiling in the ticket hall at the entrance to the Southampton pier. (Kuti’s curry house now,). My mind is dancing with boyhood memories now, thanks to all for your links and info.
I think the winning S6B is in the Science Museum but it's a few years since I've been there too.
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I will try and go in the next few weeks and report back, bit busy with Christmas etc so may be in the New Year.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
According to the museum's website, they have an exhibition at the moment; "Romance of the Flying Boat". Might be a good time to visit.
As I recall from my last visit (about '87) the S6 is the winner of the penultimate race.. At the time, they did occasionally open up the 'boat for a look about. I was lucky enough to sit in the LHS while an ex 'boat man talked through the take-off procedure.
As I recall from my last visit (about '87) the S6 is the winner of the penultimate race.. At the time, they did occasionally open up the 'boat for a look about. I was lucky enough to sit in the LHS while an ex 'boat man talked through the take-off procedure.
This talk of the Supermarine S5 and S6 is interesting as I visited the Transport Hall at the Festival of Britain Exhibition on the Southbank near Waterloo station in July 1951 where there was one of these aircraft hanging from the roof. See below the Transport Hall and interior shot.
It was two of the three Saro Princess flying boats built that were cocooned, having never flown, in the Solent/Southampton Water at Calshot.
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The flying Sandringham is now with Kermit Weekes in Florida though it hasn't flown since it arrived at Polk City; there is also a Solent (I think) at a museum at Oakland Airport in California.
Solent Sky museum is well worth a visit!
Solent Sky museum is well worth a visit!
