Simple really, we set up a registered charity (five trustees needed), raise money, find an airframe, rebuild it, fly it. Easy as that.

It would take years, it would take a lot of money. So what?

If anyone is seriously interested PM me or yme; as he's now seriously on board after PMing me yesterday.

Being a trustee isn't an onerous task, a handful of meetings and making sure that those running things aren't doing anything stupid.

I'd really like to hear from people who'd be serious about helping in any way (a spare Sunderland or a spare £20 million would help but are not mandatory).

It is not impossible, it's not easy or quick but it's not impossible.

We would aim to raise money initially - 50% to the foundation, 50% to established charities - by carrying out long distance flights in the UK and Europe.

Then we would look at flying further and at using renewable energy in aviation to further raise funds and the profile of the foundation.

Dick

Sorry that I apeear to have hijacked your thread, over enthusiasm is to blame.

Thanks for everyone that has PMed me, I'll get back to you all as soon as possible.

Still space for more UK replies.

There is an interesting DVD called ‘Wings on the Waitemata” that was originally released on VHS several years ago, but which has since been re-released on DVD (PAL). It features footage of the NZ Flying-Schools's flying-boats operating off Auckland Harbour during WWI and into the early-1920s (including a Supermarine Channel flying-boat), Pan American's Sikorsky S-42B and Boeing 314 Clippers flying into Auckland during the late-1930s and early-1940s, TEAL (Tasman Empire Airways Ltd) Short S.30 Empire Boats and S.25 Sandringham Mk.4 'boats; plus a huge amount of footage of TEAL's S.45A Solent Mk.4 flying-boats, including interviews with former pilots, cabin staff and maintenance engineers. There is also footage of Tourist Air Travel's and Mount Cook Airline's Grumman Widgeon operations on Auckland Harbour.

This DVD is re-released from time to time, often bundled with other films, but usually from Silver & Ballard.

Also, the DVDs “Classic New Zealand Aviation Vol.2” and “Classic New Zealand Aviation Vol.3” contain further footage, including the NZ Flying School's flying-boats at Auckland, Short S.19 Singapore III flying-boats of the RNZAF at Fiji, RNZAF Catalinas in the Solomon Islands during WWII, Sikorsky S.42, Short S.30, Short S.25 Sunderland III transport and S.45 Solent Mk.4 flying-boats at Auckland, Solent flying-boats at Wellington, and Grumman Widgeons in Fiordland.

These DVDs are avaliable from Transpress — transpress NZ: Aviation


Another interesting DVD featuring Short flying-boats is “The Ships That Flew” which features Ansett's Short Sandringham and Sunderland flying-boats that operated between Sydney and Lord Howe Island until 1974. The DVD features these flying boats during the final months of operation on what was the last scheduled airline service operated by Short 'boats. I was living in Sydney during 1974 and went on one of the farewell flightseeing flights out of Sydney that Ansett put on.

This DVD is available directly from Chevron — WELCOME TO CHEVRON


Finally, from Flying Boats Australia, there is an excellent DVD titled “From Sea to Sky” available from their website — Flying Boats - Welcome to our website and online shop!

I've got some great pictures you folks may be interested in.

Following are some photographs of TEAL's flying-boat operations at Evans Bay in Wellington between 1950 and 1954. There are also some images of Imperial Airways' S.23 Empire flying-boat “Centaurus” at Wellington on New Year's Eve 1937 and New Year's Day 1938, plus a couple of photographs of TEAL's S.30 Empire 'boat ZK-AMA “Aotearoa” visiting Wellington in 1940.

Most of these photos were taken by photographers from Wellington's Evening Post newspaper, although some came from other sources.



On 31st December 1937 a group of spectators watch Imperial Airways Short S.23 Empire flying-boat “Centaurus” (commanded by Captain John Burgess) taxi past Point Jerningham on Wellington Harbour. “Centaurus” was enroute to Lyttleton Harbour.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._31Dec1937.jpg



On 1st January 1938 “Centaurus” was back and being refuelled from the launch “Wild Duck” in Evans Bay prior to flying on to Auckland.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o...01_Jan1938.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o...02_Jan1938.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o...03_Jan1938.jpg



On 19th January 1940, TEAL's Short S.30 Empire Boat ZK-AMA “Aotearoa” alights on Evans Bay bringing dignitaries to visit the Centennial Exhibition — the exhibition site can be seen in the second photograph.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._19Jan1940.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._19Jan1940.jpg

On 18th October 1949, Wellington receives a visit from one of the new Short S.45A Solent 4 flying-boats — ZK-AMM “Ararangi”.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._18Oct1949.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._18Oct1949.jpg



The western shoreline of Evans Bay in December 1949 at Greta Point where TEAL built their flying-boat terminal. In the first photograph the ships “Wahine” and “Wingatui” are berthed at the wharf, while in the second photograph a ship is in the Patent Slip.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o...1a_Dec1949.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o...2a_Dec1949.jpg



Evans Bay on 26th February 1950 several months before TEAL began Solent services between Wellington and Sydney.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._26Feb1950.jpg



The western shoreline of Evans Bay at the Patent Slip on 18th August 1950 with two ships berthed at the wharf. TEAL's flying-boat terminal was built just out of the photograph to the right.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._18Aug1950.jpg



On 28th September 1950, Wellington receives a visit from a Solent flying-boat ZK-AMM “Ararangi” prior to the beginning of TEAL's Wellington to Sydney service the following month. A number of dignitaries were taken for a flight over the Marlborough Sounds. In the second photograph you can see the old Rongotai Aerodrome in the background. In the fifth photograph you can see TEAL's launch moored out in the bay.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._28Sep1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._28Sep1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._28Sep1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._28Sep1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._28Sep1950.jpg

On 3rd October 1950 the first scheduled Solent flight departed for Sydney (ZK-AMM “Ararangi”). In the second photograph you can see a block of flats. Two of the lock-up garages were used by TEAL for stores. A third garage was used by Customs to process departing and arriving passengers — this continued until the international terminal building was completed the following year. Passengers were transported by launch from a jetty directly across the road from the block of flats out to the flying-boat moored in the bay until a land reclaimation was completed and the braby pontoon installed. This group of photos also shows the crowd gathered for the official speeches prior to the first flight. Presumably Captain Christopher Griffiths (seen in the launch) commanded the inaugural scheduled flight.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._03Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._03Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._03Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._03Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._03Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._03Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._03Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._03Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._03Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._03Oct1950.jpg



On 6th October 1950, passengers disembarked from the first scheduled Sydney to Wellington flight.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._06Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._06Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._06Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._06Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._06Oct1950.jpg

The weather can be wild in Wellington Harbour at times. ZK-AMM “Ararangi” with a damaged port float on 18th October 1950.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._18Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._18Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._18Oct1950.jpg



A replacement port float and outboard propellor for ZK-AMM “Ararangi” on a truck at Evans Bay Yacht Club on 19th October 1950.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._19Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._19Oct1950.jpg



ZK-AMN “Awatere” receiving maintenance to the No.3 engine, then taking off from Evans Bay on 24th October 1950.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._24Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._24Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._24Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._24Oct1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._24Oct1950.jpg



On 20th November 1950, two-month-old Mervyn Lee, TEAL's youngest passenger (to that date) on the trans-Tasman flying-boat services, is shown with his mother and a colour picture of ZK-AML “Aotearoa II” that was presented to him.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._20Nov1950.jpg



NZ Prime Minister Sidney Holland and Mrs Holland departing from Evans Bay on 28th December 1950 bound for Rose Bay, Sydney then onwards by connecting Qantas Kangaroo Route flight to London.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._28Dec1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._28Dec1950.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._28Dec1950.jpg

ZK-AMM “Ararangi” taxis for takeoff then is raced by Len Southward's speedboat “Redhead” across Evans Bay on 17th January 1951.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._17Jan1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._17Jan1951.jpg



Evans Bay on 3rd February 1951 with a TEAL Solent moored out in the bay. The photographs were taken from above the Patent Slip.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._03Feb1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._03Feb1951.jpg



A truck dumps a load of soil into the water at Greta Point in Evans Bay at the beginning of the reclaimation for TEAL's flying-boat base on 6th April 1951.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._06Apr1951.jpg



Three photographs taken on the 7th & 21st April, and on 6th May 1951 showing the reclaimation in progress for TEAL's Evans Bay terminal.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._07Apr1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._21Apr1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._06May1951.jpg



Members of the All Blacks team being transported by launch out to ZK-AML “Aotearoa II” on 8th June 1951, heading off for a rugby tour to Australia.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._08Jun1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._08Jun1951.jpg



Work under way on the reclaimation for TEAL's Evans Bay flying-boat base on 13th June 1951,

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._13Jun1951.jpg



TEAL's braby pontoon under construction at Seaview, Lower Hutt on 24th August 1951.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._24Aug1951.jpg

Consolidating posts, plus adding more photos & info.
 

These photographs were taken on 7th September 1951 when a group of school children were taken from the Evans Bay Yacht Club out to ZK-AMN “Awatere” moored in the bay.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._07Sep1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._07Sep1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._07Sep1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._07Sep1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._07Sep1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._07Sep1951.jpg



A view of TEAL's new flying-boat terminal building and engineering workshop under construction on the new reclaimation at Greta Point, Evans Bay on 7th September 1951.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._07Sep1951.jpg



On 2nd October 1951, TEAL's new braby pontoon was launched in sections down the slipway at Seaview and towed by the pilot boat “Tuna” to Evans Bay where the individual sections were assembled together at Greta Point at the new flying-boat terminal.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._02Oct1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._02Oct1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._02Oct1951.jpg



ZK-AMM “Ararangi” on Evans Bay with a missing starboard float and damaged port float following a landing mishap on 18th October 1951.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._18Oct1951.jpg



ZK-AMM “Ararangi” berthed at the still uncompleted braby pontoon undergoing repairs on 19th October 1951 after losing a float the day before, with ZK-AMO “Aranui” moored out in the bay.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._19Oct1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._19Oct1951.jpg



A view of TEAL's reclaimation and braby pontoon at Evans Bay on 1st December 1951.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._01Dec1951.jpg

On 31st December 1951 ZK-AMN “Awatere” is berthed at TEAL's Evans Bay terminal for the first scheduled departure to Sydney using the new international terminal building and braby pontoon.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._31Dec1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._31Dec1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._31Dec1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._31Dec1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._31Dec1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._31Dec1951.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._31Dec1951.jpg



A Solent flying-boat approaching TEAL's Evans Bay terminal on 12th January 1952 then being towed back into the braby pontoon.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._12Jan1952.jpg

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._12Jan1952.jpg



A TEAL Solent docked at the Evans Bay terminal on 16th April 1954 about two months before the flying-boat service to Sydney ended.

http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o..._16Apr1954.jpg



TEAL operated four return Solent services a week from Sydney to Wellington as an extension of their Auckland to Sydney services.

Flights from Sydney to Auckland were scheduled to take seven hours, departing Sydney on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30pm (Australian Eastern Time) and arriving at Wellington the following morning at 7:30am (NZ Standard Time). The return trips departed Wellington on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 11:00am and arrived at Rose Bay, Sydney at 4:15pm, with a scheduled flight duration of seven hours fifteen minutes.

The one-way fare was NZ£28 0s 0d or A£35 0s 0d and the return fare was NZ£50 8s 0d or A£63 0s 0d.

TEAL's Short S.45A Solent Mk.4 flying-boat services between Auckland-Sydney and Auckland-Nadi (Fiji) ended at about the same time the Wellington-Sydney services ceased in June 1954.

ZK-AML “Aotearoa II” and ZK-AMN “Awatere” were sold to Aquila Airways.

ZK-AMM “Ararangi” was cut up for scrap at Auckland following an engine fire during maintenance.

ZK-AMO “Aranui” continued on the Coral Route between Fiji-Western Samoa-Aitutaki (Cook Islands)-Tahiti, as well as Fiji-Tonga until September 1960, when it flew back to Auckland and was retired.

ZK-AMO is on display at Auckland's Museum of Transport and Technology along with an ex-RNZAF S.25 Sunderland Mk.5 flying-boat.

TEAL's four Solent Mk.4s (construction numbers SH.1556, SH.1557, SH.1558 and SH.1559) were the last big Short flying-boats to be manufactured. They were built at the Short & Harland factory at Belfast in 1949.

TEAL also operated a Short Solent Mk.3, ZK-AMQ Aparima” (S.1296) which previously flew with BOAC as G-AKNR “City of Belfast” and before the Solent conversion was Seaford NJ204 with the Royal Air Force. It was scrapped at Auckland in 1957.

Stunning

What a fabulous set of photos - you must have had a struggle holding the camera ...

Many thanks

SD

My father worked for Airlines of NSW in the 50's, 60's & 70's, when as a senior F27 captain juts before retirement he got offered a gig on the Sandringham out of Rose Bay.

He spent some 2 years "getting his feet wet" on these aircraft until they were sold to Charles Blair. As a youngster I got to fly in them.

Recently my dad , now 92, went to the UK and travelled to Southhampton with his youngst grandson, having contacted the museum first.

To his surprise there were so 50 people waiting for him. He spent a complete happy afternoon reminising days flying from Sydney to Lord Howe.

Who says flying isn't romantic

Wow! What a wonderful collection. Thank you very much for sharing Kiwithrottlejockey.

I visited Fantasy of Flight (in Florida) this past Feb. and was able to enter their aircraft.
They are planning to restore it at some point and it will be flying again.
If you are in Florida I would definately recommend a visit, they are just west of Orlando.
f

Teal Flight 5-6th October 1950
 

Would it be possible to obtain a copy of one of your photos, as I know one of the individuals in the same? With thanks.

The Sunderland at Duxford:

ScanImage2 1024 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I've just added a whole lot more photographs to this thread, as well as correcting some of the info accompanying the images and also added additional information about TEAL's flying-boat services at Wellington. Many of the additional photographs are ones I couldn't locate when I originally posted the thread (my filing system is bloody shocking and I still haven't managed to find all of the photos I've got of TEAL's flying-boat operations at Wellington). I also took the opportunity to consolidate it all down to only seven messages and deleted the rest.

Some of the images that were already in the thread now have altered URLs, so if any of you have linked to any of them directly on other messageboard forums or websites, you may have to edit the source URL to get them to display again.

228 Sqn.Kalafrana Malta.WWII
 

Interesting site.scroll down to Sunderland in index on left hand side.

Index

Aquila Airways
 

My parents flew on a Solent of Aquila from Lisbon to Funchal, Madeira, in November 1954, on their honeymoon. They were supposed to fly from Southampton to Funchal, I think via Lisbon, on an Aquila Solent, but because of prolonged bad weather in Lisbon, the Solent was unable to get back to Soton to pick them and the other passengers up, so they had to hang around in Soton for several days, Aquila eventually flew them out to Lisbon on a DC3, which was the first flight either of them had taken. The seats were "bolt upright," to quote my mother and they touched down to refuel somewhere in France (Bordeaux?), all the passengers having to get off the aircraft in freezing cold.

When they got to Lisbon, the Solent was at last able to fly them out to Funchal and my mother got very seasick in the landing boat. I've got a photo of the Solent taken by my late father and when I can find it, I'll scan it in, upload it to Flickr, then post a link to it here. Anyone else with memories of Aquila?

Also, quite a few years ago, Propliner published an article about Aquila, which said that, after Aquila's demise in 1958, their surviving Solents were flown out to Lisbon "in a vain hope/effort of/at resuming operations." That never came to pass and I was astonished to read that the three(?) Solents survived in a boat yard in Lisbon till as late as 1971, when they were finally scrapped. Shame.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/NanFB111.jpg


[IMG]http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/a...NaninFB111.jpg[/IMG]

One who believes she is a Fantome sprog visited the Musee de L'Air on 5th July 2012.

She entered there the collection's Sandringham, climbed up into the wheelhouse to sit upon the seat once occupied by PG Taylor, he who plied this boat out of Sydney for a few years in the mid fifties on cruises round the South Pacific. Sir Gordon's book of those years is 'Bird of the Islands', and a damn fine read it is too.

Taylor christened his lovely acquisition 'Frigate Bird 111'. One day he left her in Tahiti. Hence the French connection.

If per chance you know anything about PG Taylor that may not be common knowledge, please PM me, as there is a biographer friend of mine working on a life of Taylor.

Incidentally, when another of PGT's aircraft sat semi-derelict at the back of a hangar occupied by Ansett Flying Boat Services at Rose Bay in Sydney, I used often to sit in the Taylor seat of Catalina 'Frigate Bird 11', eat my lunch and dream of palm fringed lagoons and grass skirts and Polynesian beauties. Oh, and the deafening roar of two big Pratts for fifteen hours or more at a time. And G and Ts as the sun sinks in a red and golden blaze out over the bay.