Post by Peter Lewis on Mar 13, 2013 8:01:36 GMT 12
The Auckland-Tahiti flying boat service established in 1951 by TEAL, known as the Coral Route, is still famous today.
There is much information and misinformation about this service floating around the internet.
Therefore I am starting this thread in the anticipation that we can build a definitive history of this route.
As a starter:
By 1951, NZNAC had extended its Sunderland III Pacific Service from Fiji to Aitutaki, Cook Islands at the same time as an Air Tahiti service linked French Polynesia with Nandi. These regional services connected with the BCPA Pacific route from Auckland to Vancouver. With the arrival of the Solents and the immenant withdrawal of the Sunderlands, these routes were to be handed over to TEAL and the service extended to Tahiti.
At that time, the Tahitian capital of Papeete did not possess a land airport. All international flights to the city had to land at the ex-US base at Bora Bora and then transfer by Catalina flying boats to travel to the city.
The airport at Bora Bora. Even today, to leave the airport without travelling by air you must take the boat!
The modern airport at Fa'aa, Papeete. The flying boat services terminated here prior to the runway construction
Thus to prepare for the proposed service, TEAL employed the Boeing PB2B-1 Catalina ZK-AMP as a survey aircraft.
The route was developed over time, and became famous as The Coral Route. Travel times were long: Auckland - (7.30hrs) - Suva, Fiji - (3.45hrs) - Apia, Samoa - (5.00hrs) - Aitutaki, Cook Islands - (4.05hrs) - Papeete,Tahiti.
Over night stops were at Suva and Apia, then the flight left Samoa well before daylight to arrive in Aitutaki in the Cook Islands early in the morning. Aitutaki was intended just as a refuelling stop, and the passengers would leave the aircraft for just a few hours before reboarding for Tahiti.
Aitutaki is around 40 minutes flying time from Rarotonga, and already possessed a sizeable wartime airfield. The logistics of the service meant that all fuel and food had to be shipped to Rarotonga, on to Aitutaki and then out over the lagoon to the islet Motu Akaiami which at that time was uninhabited.
A stone jetty was built on Motu Akaiami so that passengers and supplies could be transferred out to the Solent, and a small building constructed to give the passengers shelter.
Aerial view of Aitutaki, the airfield is located at the top right of the island and the flying boat area arrowed.
Map of Aitutaki showing the location of the TEAL depot and alighting areas
View of the remains of the stone jetty as seen in 2004
At high tide, thats me trying not to get my feet wet on the jetty
After the Catalina had set up the route, Solent III ZK-AMQ captained by J.R. McGrane and P.F. Le Couteur left Auckland on 28Nov1951 for Tahiti via Suva-Aitutaki on a proving flight. It returned to Auckland on 8 December. Following this flight, ZK-AMQ "Aparima" (Captain J.R. McGrane) carried out the first commercial service on the Coral Route departing Auckland on the 27th December. The return service commenced on 31 December and returned to Auckland on 4 January, 1952.
Initially the service operated on a monthly basis, but by May 1952 had increased to once every two weeks.
ZK-AMO in later TEAL colours moored at Aitutaki
Part of a documentary made about the Coral Route, with a slightly inaccurate commentary
By 1954 the Solents were being replaced on most TEAL services by land-based aircraft. However, the Coral Route was maintained by ZK-AMO with Solent 3 ZK-AMQ initially used as a reserve aircraft, later Australian Sandringhams were hired to cover for maintenance.
ZK-AMO moored at the Mechanics Bay buoy
The end finally came in 1960, the service having become quite uneconomic.
ZK-AMO departing Lauthala Bay, Fiji, on the final service back to Auckland 14Sep1960, Captain J Shephard.
Once back in Auckland, ZK-AMO was decommissioned and taken to storage at Hobsonville.
All additions and memories very welcome.
There is much information and misinformation about this service floating around the internet.
Therefore I am starting this thread in the anticipation that we can build a definitive history of this route.
As a starter:
By 1951, NZNAC had extended its Sunderland III Pacific Service from Fiji to Aitutaki, Cook Islands at the same time as an Air Tahiti service linked French Polynesia with Nandi. These regional services connected with the BCPA Pacific route from Auckland to Vancouver. With the arrival of the Solents and the immenant withdrawal of the Sunderlands, these routes were to be handed over to TEAL and the service extended to Tahiti.
At that time, the Tahitian capital of Papeete did not possess a land airport. All international flights to the city had to land at the ex-US base at Bora Bora and then transfer by Catalina flying boats to travel to the city.
The airport at Bora Bora. Even today, to leave the airport without travelling by air you must take the boat!
The modern airport at Fa'aa, Papeete. The flying boat services terminated here prior to the runway construction
Thus to prepare for the proposed service, TEAL employed the Boeing PB2B-1 Catalina ZK-AMP as a survey aircraft.
The route was developed over time, and became famous as The Coral Route. Travel times were long: Auckland - (7.30hrs) - Suva, Fiji - (3.45hrs) - Apia, Samoa - (5.00hrs) - Aitutaki, Cook Islands - (4.05hrs) - Papeete,Tahiti.
Over night stops were at Suva and Apia, then the flight left Samoa well before daylight to arrive in Aitutaki in the Cook Islands early in the morning. Aitutaki was intended just as a refuelling stop, and the passengers would leave the aircraft for just a few hours before reboarding for Tahiti.
Aitutaki is around 40 minutes flying time from Rarotonga, and already possessed a sizeable wartime airfield. The logistics of the service meant that all fuel and food had to be shipped to Rarotonga, on to Aitutaki and then out over the lagoon to the islet Motu Akaiami which at that time was uninhabited.
A stone jetty was built on Motu Akaiami so that passengers and supplies could be transferred out to the Solent, and a small building constructed to give the passengers shelter.
Aerial view of Aitutaki, the airfield is located at the top right of the island and the flying boat area arrowed.
Map of Aitutaki showing the location of the TEAL depot and alighting areas
View of the remains of the stone jetty as seen in 2004
At high tide, thats me trying not to get my feet wet on the jetty
After the Catalina had set up the route, Solent III ZK-AMQ captained by J.R. McGrane and P.F. Le Couteur left Auckland on 28Nov1951 for Tahiti via Suva-Aitutaki on a proving flight. It returned to Auckland on 8 December. Following this flight, ZK-AMQ "Aparima" (Captain J.R. McGrane) carried out the first commercial service on the Coral Route departing Auckland on the 27th December. The return service commenced on 31 December and returned to Auckland on 4 January, 1952.
Initially the service operated on a monthly basis, but by May 1952 had increased to once every two weeks.
ZK-AMO in later TEAL colours moored at Aitutaki
Part of a documentary made about the Coral Route, with a slightly inaccurate commentary
By 1954 the Solents were being replaced on most TEAL services by land-based aircraft. However, the Coral Route was maintained by ZK-AMO with Solent 3 ZK-AMQ initially used as a reserve aircraft, later Australian Sandringhams were hired to cover for maintenance.
ZK-AMO moored at the Mechanics Bay buoy
The end finally came in 1960, the service having become quite uneconomic.
ZK-AMO departing Lauthala Bay, Fiji, on the final service back to Auckland 14Sep1960, Captain J Shephard.
Once back in Auckland, ZK-AMO was decommissioned and taken to storage at Hobsonville.
All additions and memories very welcome.