AND SOLENT
The Short Sunderland
was developed from the Short Empire
class of flying boats which were used to carry mail and
passengers to the outposts of the British empire.
First flown in 1937,
it became the standard long-range RAF
flying boat, with extensive offensive and defensive armament
and a 20 hour endurance. It eventually had up to eighteen
defensive machine-guns, the most of any aircraft and
earning the German nickname "the porcupine".
The initial versions
had Bristol Pegasus engines, but as weight
crept up the Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engine was introduced
for the Mk 5 version. This version remained in RAF service
until 1959, and in RNZAF service until 1967. A total of 749
examples of all Sunderlands were built.
A new version, initally
designated the Sunderland Mk IV was
developed using the Bristol Hercules engine. The differences
became so extensive that the aircraft was re-designated the
Seaford. This model had not entered active service by wars
end, and the 20 examples built were converted to civil airliners
and designated Solent.
The Solent only had
a short service life before becoming
obsolete. A few odd examples remained in service during the
1950's in the Pacific area.
This CD contains
the flight manuals (titled Pilot's Notes) for the
three main variants of the Sunderland which saw service with
the RAF, plus one flight manual (also called Pilot's Notes) for
the civil Short Solent. This CD has been copied from the
original
flight manuals and retains any colour pages.
