Memories of flying boats.

[planedriver]

I have just finished reading the lengthy article on one particular flying boat https://www.aussieairliners.com/shortfb/vh-brc/vhbrc.html

What an interesting life it has had, and it brought back a memorable occasion when I was lucky enough to be shown through the aircraft back in 1976.

A couple weeks after my 33rd birthday I was on holiday staying with an uncle who owned Round Island in Poole harbour.

He took us out on one of his boats for the day and we went for a closer look at this flying boat at Studland Bay, it was only there for a few days and had been used for a few flightseeing trips.

We actually took his boat under the wing and were chatting to the crew onboard. I was not lucky enough to experience a flight in it, but we were invited to go onboard for a look around.

I remember it had a smell of it's own, something like you experience when getting in a real old car that has'nt been smoked in.

The photo's taken that day are sadly long gone, but I was totally mesmerised looking at the abundance of photo's in this article, especially the internal shots towards the end.

What an interesting life she has had, and been fixed up to fly again after being so battered and bruised on more than one occasion.

At 83, I doubt i'll be making another trip back to the UK, but if I do make it, i'll definately be heading to The Solent Museum in Southampton to see her again.

They say that Joseph had a coat of many colours. This aircraft did also.

They also had one on disply at the Royal Air Force Museum at Hendon near London when I visited many years ago which you were allowed to walk through. If ever in London a visit here is a must.

Edited 14 hours ago by planedriver
spelling mistake

[facthunter]

I knew John Cole and Monkton wrote a book called "Boats I Flew". A good read. .Nev