When did the last Sunderland flying boat fly?
Answers:
For the last commercial flight Ansett Flying Boat Services flew the Sunderland and its Sandringham variant from Rose Bay on Sydney Harbour to Lord Howe Island until September 10 1974. There is still as far as I can gather one still flying is at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City Florida, it is a MK5
I supect there are still some flying as they were still about in the early 1990's.
In 1980 while under threat of scrapping, the aircraft was taken over by former Antilles Air Boats chief pilot Ron Gillies. He along with other enthusiasts raised money to repair the aircraft and it was flown from Puerto Rico to Eire in October. The aircraft arrived at Calshot after its last flight on February 3 1982, where it was beached. It was refloated, then taxied to Lee-on-Solent on July 7, 1981. The aircraft was sold to the Science Museum who subsequently agreed for it to be housed in a new museum at Southampton. On March 1 1983 the aircraft was transferred by barge to Southampton I THINK THIS IS THE SANDRINGHAM NOT SURE
http://www.odyssey.dircon.co.uk/sunderla.
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