VINTAGE SEAPIANES
Editor's Note: The photos and informa tion for this month's Vintage Seaplane column was furnished by Jorge J. Suarez (EAA 218712, AlC 8206), Cauce M-4, Alturas del Remanso, Rio Pierdras, P.R. 00926. Short Sunderland S.25, N158J flying boat was completed at Short & Harland, Ltd., Belfast, Northern Ireland in March 1944 as a Mk. III, SIN ML-814. It was fitted with four Bristol Pegasus X.C. en gines and saw service with RAF. 201 and 422 Squadrons during that year. In February, 1945 it was returned to Short for conversion to a Sunderland Mk. V fitted with P&W Twin Wasp R 1830-900 engines. From April 1945 to February 1946, it served with 330 Squadron. In November 1946 it was placed in long term storage, ending in May 1952 when it was again returned to Short for mod ification to New Zealand standards. In May 1953 it was delivered to the Royal New Zealand Air Force as SIN NZ-4108 and flew with NO. 5 Squadron (M.R.). In 1963 it was acquired by Ansett Fly ing Boat Services in Australia and con verted to passenger configuration. The front gun turret was removed and the resulting "nose job" left a more promi nent bulge than a Belfast-built Sandrin gham resulting in the converted aircraft being referred to as a Sunderingham! Up to this time the aircraft had only flown a total of 1085 hours. From De cember 1964 until the termination of An sett's flying boat services in September, 1974, it operated on the company's route from Rose Bay, Sydney to Lord Howe Island, a distance of about 400 miles, registered VH-BRF in Australia under the name of "Islander". Bought in September 1974 for Antil les Air Boats in the Virgin Islands by Capt. Charles Blair and re-named "Ex calibur VIII," it was flown to Puerto Rico via Pago Pago, Honolulu, Long Beach, Eagle Mountain Lake, Washington, New York, Boston and St. Croix (a total of about 9,900 miles). After its arrival in Puerto Rico the air craft was stored at Isla Grande Airport, San Juan until May 1979. After the death of Charles Blair the flying boat was saved from certain destruction by the millionaire, Edward Hulton. Hulton spent more than $1,000,000 in making the boat airworthy, and on November 12, 1980, Blair's widow, actress Mau reen O'Hara christened the aircraft "Juliet" and it was registered N158J. The Sunderland is now in England, arriving there on May 19, 1981 flying from Puerto Rico via St. Croix, Ber
muda, Gander, Shannon and Calshot. Recently, "Juliet" has acquired British registry, G-BJHS. British Short Sunderlands were origi nally passenger-carrying flying boats, converted during WW II to reconnais sance service including maritime con voy escort and anti-submarine warfare. Sunderland production continued until 1945 reaching a total of 741 .
The accompanying photos are of the last two flyable Sunderlands. VP-L VE is in a Museum and N158J (now G BJHS) is flying in England. Short Sunderland specifications: wing span 112' 9", length 86' 3", height 32' 10-1 /2" , max. take off weight 59,000 Ibs. , cruising speed 140 knots, max. passenger seating 42 and crew 5. •
Photo by J . Suarez
Sandringham IV, VP-LVE "Southern Cross" operated by Antilles Air Boats at Christian sted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands on May 10, 1975.
Photo by J. Suarez
Short Sunderland Mk.V, N158J (now G-BJHS) moored at Isla Grande, San Juan, P.R. on November 15, 1980. VINTAGE AIRPLANE 25