Post by Peter Lewis on Aug 26, 2006 22:14:29 GMT 12
Most of you will know that TEAL started with two Short S.30 Empire flying boats, and that these aircraft were withdrawn
from service in November 1947.
Both aircraft were then sold by tender, and ZK-AMC Awarua was scrapped soon after.
However, ZK-AMA Aotearoa survived for some years. I have it logged as being taken to Mission bay and operated as a coffee bar
before finally being resold and scrapped in 1954.
Recently, I have come across a very detailed work on the history of all of the early Short boats 'Flying Empires' written
by Brian Cassidy and published in 1996.
He has this to say about Aotearoa:
"The 'boat was towed inland and settled to rest on a lot in a suburban street, as a static display. 'MA was
surrounded with a rail fence and as an added attraction, a miniature golf course was laid out round the
aircraft. A rockery, with flowers, completed the scene. A charge was made for a round of golf and
admission to view the aircraft. Photographs show the aerial mast extended and some unidentifiable flag
flying, in defiance of the etiquette that no bunting should fly from a beached flying-boat. One photo shows
the bunting broken - no doubt as an unintentional sign of distress - to the half mast position.
The advertising board at the entrance to the site read:
'A unique opportunity to inspect The Pioneer Flying Boat of the Tasman Service. See the passenger accommodation.
Inspect the flight deck, the engineer's room, the observer's chart room with the chart still on the table after the last Tasman
crossing. Sit in the pilot's cockpit and actually handle the controls of this GIANT AIRCRAFT! You will enjoy inspecting
the intricate machinery of this masterpiece of engineering. An experience you'll never forget! A chance you'll never have
again!'
Timber access steps were rigged to allow entry to the forward passenger hatch on the port side and to the
starboard mail hatch on the control deck. Visitors entering the aircraft started a recorded description of the
'boat and its service. Although one account described 'MA 'as shiny and new as the day she took the water
many years ago', another and perhaps later, visitor gave a different account of a visit to the old 'boat. His
visit was a distinctly dispiriting experience. 'MA was then in a poor state and the interior not even properly
cleaned out. 'MA remained landlocked in its distressed and undignified state, until sometime in 1954 when
it too, as the very last remaining Empire 'boat, was scrapped."
Does anyone have any recollection of this setup? (Ask your father/grandfather!) Any clues as to the exact location of the display? Any photographs?
It does seem a real pity that New Zealand's first international airliner was allowed to decay in this manner.
from service in November 1947.
Both aircraft were then sold by tender, and ZK-AMC Awarua was scrapped soon after.
However, ZK-AMA Aotearoa survived for some years. I have it logged as being taken to Mission bay and operated as a coffee bar
before finally being resold and scrapped in 1954.
Recently, I have come across a very detailed work on the history of all of the early Short boats 'Flying Empires' written
by Brian Cassidy and published in 1996.
He has this to say about Aotearoa:
"The 'boat was towed inland and settled to rest on a lot in a suburban street, as a static display. 'MA was
surrounded with a rail fence and as an added attraction, a miniature golf course was laid out round the
aircraft. A rockery, with flowers, completed the scene. A charge was made for a round of golf and
admission to view the aircraft. Photographs show the aerial mast extended and some unidentifiable flag
flying, in defiance of the etiquette that no bunting should fly from a beached flying-boat. One photo shows
the bunting broken - no doubt as an unintentional sign of distress - to the half mast position.
The advertising board at the entrance to the site read:
'A unique opportunity to inspect The Pioneer Flying Boat of the Tasman Service. See the passenger accommodation.
Inspect the flight deck, the engineer's room, the observer's chart room with the chart still on the table after the last Tasman
crossing. Sit in the pilot's cockpit and actually handle the controls of this GIANT AIRCRAFT! You will enjoy inspecting
the intricate machinery of this masterpiece of engineering. An experience you'll never forget! A chance you'll never have
again!'
Timber access steps were rigged to allow entry to the forward passenger hatch on the port side and to the
starboard mail hatch on the control deck. Visitors entering the aircraft started a recorded description of the
'boat and its service. Although one account described 'MA 'as shiny and new as the day she took the water
many years ago', another and perhaps later, visitor gave a different account of a visit to the old 'boat. His
visit was a distinctly dispiriting experience. 'MA was then in a poor state and the interior not even properly
cleaned out. 'MA remained landlocked in its distressed and undignified state, until sometime in 1954 when
it too, as the very last remaining Empire 'boat, was scrapped."
Does anyone have any recollection of this setup? (Ask your father/grandfather!) Any clues as to the exact location of the display? Any photographs?
It does seem a real pity that New Zealand's first international airliner was allowed to decay in this manner.