Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 2, 2010 22:17:16 GMT 12
I am scanning photos of New Zealand flying boats on loan from Marcus.
Among these are some shots of TEAL's only Solent III taken at Mechanics Bay.
The interesting thing is that, although the aircraft is painted up in TEAL colours, it carries its previous British registration of G-AKNR and the BOAC name 'City of Belfast'.
Now we know that this Solent, fitted with less powerful engines that TEALs other Solents, was considered underpowered and saw relativly little service with TEAL.
A potted history (largely via Peter Layne):
Built by Shorts at Rochester as Seaford 1 NJ204 1946.
Conv Solent at Belfast 1949
G-AKNR Ministry of Civil Aviation/BOAC
To ZK-AMQ , Del. 15Sep51
29 6 54 WFU
9 3 55 Removed from storage
10 3 55 Test and training flight
12 3 55 Auckland to Suva to replace ZK-AMO which returned to Auckland for main spar modification.
15 3 55 until 20 5 55 Operated the Coral route
22 5 55 Returned to Auckland and placed in storage
23 7 56 and 1 8 56 test flights in Auckland
3 8 56 Auckland to Suva
6 8 56 until 12 10 56 Operated the Coral route while ZK-AMO operated between Auckland and Suva.
17 10 56 Returned to Auckland
19 10 56 Auckland to Chatham Islands
20 10 56 Chatham Islands to Auckland and placed in reserve. Last flight by ZK-AMQ.
Oct 1957 Sold for scrap.
So . . . Did it arrive in NZ fully painted up in TEAL colours apart from the registration and name?
Was it painted here - and the photos just happened to catch it in mid conversion?
Or is there some other explanation?
Among these are some shots of TEAL's only Solent III taken at Mechanics Bay.
The interesting thing is that, although the aircraft is painted up in TEAL colours, it carries its previous British registration of G-AKNR and the BOAC name 'City of Belfast'.
Now we know that this Solent, fitted with less powerful engines that TEALs other Solents, was considered underpowered and saw relativly little service with TEAL.
A potted history (largely via Peter Layne):
Built by Shorts at Rochester as Seaford 1 NJ204 1946.
Conv Solent at Belfast 1949
G-AKNR Ministry of Civil Aviation/BOAC
To ZK-AMQ , Del. 15Sep51
29 6 54 WFU
9 3 55 Removed from storage
10 3 55 Test and training flight
12 3 55 Auckland to Suva to replace ZK-AMO which returned to Auckland for main spar modification.
15 3 55 until 20 5 55 Operated the Coral route
22 5 55 Returned to Auckland and placed in storage
23 7 56 and 1 8 56 test flights in Auckland
3 8 56 Auckland to Suva
6 8 56 until 12 10 56 Operated the Coral route while ZK-AMO operated between Auckland and Suva.
17 10 56 Returned to Auckland
19 10 56 Auckland to Chatham Islands
20 10 56 Chatham Islands to Auckland and placed in reserve. Last flight by ZK-AMQ.
Oct 1957 Sold for scrap.
So . . . Did it arrive in NZ fully painted up in TEAL colours apart from the registration and name?
Was it painted here - and the photos just happened to catch it in mid conversion?
Or is there some other explanation?