I was in the RAF and flew in th Canopus flying boat from Cairo in Spring 1946 to Dubai landing to refuel on the Dead Sea and on lake Habbaniyah for an overnight stop then Kuwait & Bahrain Onto Dubai. For duty at RAF Sharjah It truly was a wonderful experience for a young man of 18 . Canopus was the first C Class to be built and was dismantled in December 1946 the year in which I flew in her.
David Gurney, e-mail, 21.11.2012 22:17
My father Captain 'Mack" Gurney was a senior captain flying these aircraft from Durban to England. He also ran the Imperial Airways Flyingb Training School at Vaal Dam. Have some literature and history about thewse wonderful machines.
Tom Heald, e-mail, 26.06.2012 17:25
I also servrd my apprenticeship in Shorts 1951/56 and had many flights on the Sunderland as ballast?? We had 2015 Air Training Squadron and apprentice supervisor was Squadron Leader that's why we got the flights. Even had one landing in bomb aimers position. Quite an experience landing in Belfast Lough
John White, e-mail, 05.03.2012 11:55
I served on the last of the R.A.F. Sunderlands of 205/209 Sqdrn in the Far East from 1956 to 1959 when they were finished . They were wonderful aircraft to work on, and fly in.
Doug Rodrigues, e-mail, 06.07.2011 21:37
I don't know if Shorts made more than one type of Flying Boat, but there is a Shorts flying boat on display at the Air Museum located next to the Oakland International Airport in Oakland, California, USA. I got to walk through the plane a couple of years ago. It's still there.
Jeff Renshaw, e-mail, 27.09.2010 18:26
My father, E. W. "Ted" Renshaw, was navigator/radioman on the Canopus and other "C" class flying boats. Used to enjoy listening to him tell of flights throughout Africa and the east. I believe there is a front section, including cockpit, of a Short Brothers flying boat at the museum in Southampton, not sure which model.
Yoel Sher, e-mail, 16.03.2010 03:52
I have wonderful memories from a five day flight as a child on both the oldest boat Canopus and the newest one Cleopatra in January 1941, from Lourenco-Marques (Maputo, today) to Tiberias. Part of the trip was a fantastic safari, flying probably not higher than one thousand feet.We "landed" wherever there was some water, and stayed overnught at Mombassa, on Victoria Lake at Kisume, on the Nile at Khartoum and then in Cairo. Would it be possible to find photos and the names of the crew members operating at that time?
Martin Holmes, e-mail, 12.09.2009 22:30
What a way to travel. How I wish it were still possible! My Dad worked on these beautiful machines up and down Africa and along the Nile during the War with Imperial Air/BOAC...Cairo, Khartoum, Wadi-Halfa, Durban,and other places. At one time, both he (Stanley) and his elder brother (Dick), were "web-footers".
JACK CAIRNS, e-mail, 18.04.2009 04:42
HI - I SERVED APPRENTISHIP IN SHORT BROS + HARLAND IN BELFAST IN 52-57 - ON SUNDERLANDS ETC. THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET - TRY ENTERING SHORTS FLYING BOATS - THANX J.C.
Geoff Gurr, e-mail, 30.10.2008 23:38
I flew as passenger in a C Class 'boat from Cairo to Nairobi, then later from Mombasa to Diego Suarez in Madagascar in 1944. Is there any way to trace the names of these 'boats, please?
sandra.walters, e-mail, 31.10.2007 12:30
Can you please give details of which flying boats were used on the Southampton - Vaal Dam South Africa route. Also what speed did she travel, how many passengers and the exact route (with stops) many thanks
Trevor More, e-mail, 05.08.2007 10:37
The last S23 Empire boat was broken up in 1954. So, sadly, none survive and you cannot fly in one.
John Haggman, e-mail, 25.04.2007 13:32
Where can I fly one? Can you please advise where any S.23's presently operate? Thanks, John Sydney, Australia
If you want to send an email just replace '(@)' in the address with '@' !
