Short S.25 Sunderland, гражданские конверсии и Sandringham
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Более эстетически привлекательным стал вариант Sandringham, у которого носовая и хвостовая турели были закрыты обтекателями. Первый такой самолет появился ДальшеMore>>>
в ноябре 1945 года, он оснащался двигателями Pegasus. Более поздние экземпляры имели уже двигатели Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp R-1830-92 мощностью 1200 л. с. и вмещали на двух палубах 45 пассажиров.
По стандарту Sandringham переоборудовали около 30 самолетов различных вариантов. Они использовались не только в британской авиакомпании BOAC, но и в Аргентине, Австралии, Новой Зеландии, Норвегии, Уругвае и др. Последний переоборудованный в гражданский транспортный вариант самолет был снят с эксплуатации компанией "Ansett Flying Boat Services" в 1974 году.
Edward Hulton's Short Sunderland/Sandringham G-BJHS over the Solent on August 3, 1989.
Soon to leave UK skies, perhaps for ever, Short Sunderland flying-boat G-BJHS is seen here over the Solent on August 3, 1989, while briefly wearing the sponsorship colours of Ryanair. As reported in last December’s Grapevine, the aircraft’s new owner Kermit Weeks will be taking it to Florida this spring.
Image taken during G-BJHS' stay in the UK when owned by Edward Hulton.
On September 18, 1991, six days before it was put up for auction (and failed to sell) in London, Edward Hulton’s Short Sunderland G-BJHS made a publicity flight for Sotheby’s over the Solent. The magnificent white flying-boat - the sole airworthy example - was photographed by FRANCOIS PRINS from a Royal Navy Gazelle helicopter, based at RNAY Fleetlands and piloted by Lt-Cdr Kevin Ratcliffe. Piloting the Sunderland was Mike Searle, with Ken Emmott as captain and Geoff Masterton as flight engineer.
The crew of Sunderland G-BJHS give the viewers on top of Calshot Castle a final bird’s-eye view on July 20, 1993.
Crowds line the beach at Calshot to wave goodbye to last airworthy Sunderland G-BJHS on July 20, 1993, as pilots Kermit Weeks and Ken Emmott bring the flying-boat in for a final low pass before departing for Eire, Iceland and North America.
A last look: Short Sunderland G-BJHS over the Needles at the western tip of the Isle of Wight, during a final tour of the South of England on July 17, 1993 before it departed for Eire, Iceland and North America on July 20.
The last flying Sunderland anywhere, Edward Hulton’s Mk 5 G-BJHS was built by Shorts at Belfast.
We carry two features on the Short flying-boats that survive in the USA. Sunderland MR.5 G-BJHS enjoyed a period of 'heritage' flying in the UK in the 1980s and 1990s
Sunderland G-BJHS at Calshot Spit, where it is being prepared for its flight to its new home in Florida. Parked next to it is Tony Allen’s DHC Beaver floatplane G-DHCB.
As VH-BRF, the Polk City Sunderland flew with Ansett Flying Boat Services from 1963 to 1974.
Sunderland MR.5 VH-BRF is shown taking off from Lake Eucumbere in New South Wales on November 29, 1970. John Sheraton of Lydney, Glos, notes that he and his wife flew on this machine to Lord Howe Island the following March.
John Sheraton of Lydney, Glos, notes that he and his wife flew to Lord Howe Island the March 1971. They flew back to Sydney in Ansett Sandringham VH-BRC, painted in the old colour scheme. It is pictured on the lagoon at Lord Howe, which John notes is an idyllic spot if ever there was one.
Компания "Reseau Aerien Interinsulaire" эксплуатировала этот Sandringham Mk 7, принадлежавший ранее BOAC, на маршрутах между островами Таити, Общества и Туамоту в Тихом океане.
Formerly G-AKCO in BOAC service, Short Sandringham F-OBIP (c/n SH57C) was acquired by TAI Pacific subsidiary Reseau Aerien Interinsulaire (RAI) in May 1958. With the completion of the runway at Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, in 1960, the big flying-boat was used on services to Huahine, Raiatea (where it is seen here), Rangiroa, Tikihau and Bora Bora.
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