By Harry Follas chinook@ihug.co.nz
Flight model by Brian Horsey
Inspired by the original FS5 Sunderland model by Mike Hill
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SPAL purchased 3 former BOAC Solent IIIs with the intention of flying services from Honolulu
via Christmas Island to Tahiti. Although proving flights were successfully flown, the service
was awarded to Pan Am at the 11th hour.
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Short's last large commercial flying boat, the S.45 Solent had its origins in the Seaford
(origially the Sunderland IV) military patrol aircraft intended for RAF service in the Pacific.
An enlarged Sunderland, the Seaford retained the former's wing but with a longer and wider
planing surface on the standard width hull, increased weights, the use of heavier gauge metal,
more powerful Bristol Hercules engines and larger vertical & horizontal tail surfaces.
Too late for war service, the original order was drastically cut. One of the Seafords was
loaned to BOAC resulting in an order for 12 of the civilianised version, the Solent 2. The
Solent 2s were used on the twice weekly "Springbok" route to South Africa. The Solent 2s were
joined by several Solent 3s (converted Seafords). BOAC flying boat services ceased abruptly in
November 1950, the aircraft being replaced in service by Lockheed Constellations and Canadair
C-4s.
The ultimate Solent version was a quartet of Solent IVs ordered by New Zealand's Tasman
Empire Airways Ltd (TEAL). These aircraft featured more powerful engines, incresed weights
and greater range. Accomodating 44 passengers they were introduced on the Auckland-Sydney
route in November 1949 and from June 1950 services to Fiji. TEAL replaced its Solents in
1954 with DC-6 landplanes, however one aircraft was retained on the celerbrated "Coral Route"
to Fiji and Tahiti until September 1960.
Britain's Aquila Airways, a charter operator, also operated Solents of all marks until 1958.
Length: 87ft 8 in
Wingspan: 112ft 9.5 in
Wing Area: 1687sq ft
Height: 34 ft 3 in
Maximum Speed: 237kts
Cruising Speed: 200kts
Initial Climb: 925 ft/min
Service Ceiling: 17,900 ft
Range: 2,690 miles
Weights: 49,145 lbs (empty)
80,000 lbs (max)
Power: 4 x Bristol Hercules @ 1,690 hp EA
Accommadation: 44 pax, 5 crew
OPERATION:
Typical Engine operating data:
Takeoff : 2475 Rpm +4.25 lbs Boost
Max Continuous 2600 Rpm +2.0 lbs
Climb 2250 Rpm +2.5 lbs
Cruise 2250 Rpm +2.0 lbs
For those used to American terminology, the Brits use "Pounds per square inch" and not " Inches
**TAXIING AND TAKEOFF
A couple of extra notes about taxiing the aircraft, In reality they
were a real handfull at slow speeds. To steer The aircraft, the
pilots relied entirely upon independent throttle control.
The real take off proccedure (which works in FS98) is outlined below
An extract from a written account of one of TEAL's former pilots,
Cpt Eddie Tredea, goes as following:
"During the start of the takeoff run the propeller torque tended to
rotate the aircraft to the right. To maintain a straight run the
pilot would throttle back on the port (left) outer engine until,
at a certain speed the torque was negated by the forward motion.
the port outer was then put up to full power. By this stage the
aircraft should have reached 90 percent of its take off speed."
With one-third flap you should begin to rotate at about 90KTS
LANDING:
Begin the approach at 115KTS, aim to touch down at about 75KTS and
full flap
