The Ansett Short Sandringham flying boat used to operate from Sydney to Lord Howe Island. These were in service all the way through to 1974 and happily one of them is preserved today.
You might think it would be somewhere down under, but it’s not. It is located at the Solent Sky Museum in Southampton in England. I recently had a chance to visit and here’s what it’s like inside.
Ansett Short Sandringham
This particular flying boat was built in 1943 and first operated for Tasman Empire Airways Limited, or TEAL from 1947. Today you’d know that airline as Air New Zealand by the way. Next, Ansett Flying Boat Services took the aircraft in 1954, registered it as VH-BRC and named it Beachcomber.
The Cockpit
At Solent Sky Museum in Southampton, you can visit the cockpit of the Ansett Short Sandringham. It is blocked off and you need a staff member to take you up, as the ladder is somewhat precarious.
Passenger Cabin
Seats are arranged with three seats on one side and one seat on the opposite side. They also face each other, which is sort of reminiscent of a railway carriage to one extent or another.
Galley and Safety
Upstairs is also where the galley is located. You’re not able to go into it as it’s roped off, but you can definitely see it quite well. Again, quite old fashioned yet it does have its own window for the crew, which is nice.
Overall Thoughts
The Ansett Short Sandringham is an interesting beast. Since it went on to fly for Antilles Air Boats, I wonder how much the interior was changed, if any. There is a great colour film about the Ansett Flying Boat Services here which is worth seeing.
For those wanting to see the full history of the Ansett Flying Boats, you can go here. Each aircraft record contains many pictures, especially the one about Beachcomber, VH-BRC.
Did you ever fly on an Ansett flying boat or any other flying boat? What do you think of this one in the museum? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image by R. N. Smith via Aussieairliners.org.
I flew on this from Calshot in 1977. An outstanding experience. I lived in Southampton and remember watching the museum being built. Responding to the comments below I also regularly flew out of Watson Island to Bimini on Chalks before the crash shut them down.
That’s wonderful – you’ve definitely used a flew flying boats in your time then. It’s great that this one is preserved. It looks so good in the museum that you’d think it could fly at any time. Thanks for the comment!
Something else just struck me: They had air nozzles in a plane built in 1943 but many airlines still can’t manage that to this day. Strange juxtaposition.
Yes, a lot don’t have them these days. I suppose it was the least they could do, since the aircraft had no air conditioning and windows that didn’t open.
Pretty amazing. Outside of Chalk’s from Miami to Nassau I’ve never flown in a flying boat but they still mesmerize me. Any idea if any scheduled services are left?
Same, I’ve never flown in one myself. I don’t know if there are any scheduled services anywhere these days. I’d make a point to try to get on one if there were.
amazing, thanks for sharing
You’re welcome!
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