The Last Flight of a Sunderland Flying Boat at Calshot near Southampton, July 1993

[@dr.lexwinter8604]

Holy heck! I don't know what's crazier, seeing this Sunderland take to the sky, or seeing Kermit Weeks this bloody young!

[@cptairwolf]

HAHA I was just about to type the exact same thing and noticed this was the first comment LOL

[@JLange642]

I thought they had lovingly restored Kermit Weeks!

[@reggveg]

@@JLange642 LOL!!!

[@alexmontgomery255]

I saw this historic aircraft in 2003 while it was still undergoing restoration. Happy to know that it was saved when so many were scrapped.

[@andrewgolddog8301]

I've visited her at Fantasy of Flight in Florida in the late 2000's. She was in fine shape and being lovingly cared for and hangared. She has an Australian Connection too, being once a member of the Ansett Airlines fleet operating out of Rose Bay New South Wales.

[@petergraves2085]

"Once a member of the Ansett Airlines fleet operating out of Rose Bay New South Wales" which I saw often taking off for their trip to Lord Howe Island. As I passed by on the old Manly ferries of the 1960s and very early 1970s.

[@hogey74]

Really? There are some great stories about those machines, including the one that sank.

[@southseasailing]

@@hogey74 In Port Vila Harbour, Vanuatu?

[@markhepworth]

Sitting outside rotting in the Florida humidity last time Kermit weeks showed it on film,very sad.

[@peterelmer9114]

My late Dad did a year’s National service at Calshot working on Sunderlands around 1949. He had many a story to tell about his experiences - including one where he slipped off the top wing, doing an inspection in icy conditions, landing in a freezing Solent - eventually being picked up a long way from the aircraft having turned a shade of blue ! Amazing aircraft that played a vital role during WW2.

[@johnspeight4727]

Hi Peter Just stumbled on this site and couldnt resist replying . My Dad Gerald Speight worked on these wonderul aircraft during the war out of Durban SA. But my first recollection of these aircraft was a test or delivery flight to Poole and we came back by coach to Hythe that would be 1947/8 Thrilling flight for a 4 year old. John Speight

[@peterelmer9114]

@@johnspeight4727 ; Thanks John for sharing your experience of Sunderlands.

[@cliffordwaghorn6358]

I also did my national service there in 1952, saw that happen couple of times doing broken float drill - six of us lying on wingtip to make sure kept wing with a float left kept on water!! when touching down at 90mph, trying to run past the engines still going full belt, then tying rope round the exhaust pipe, great fun or so the pilot thought!!😎😂

[@peterelmer9114]

@@cliffordwaghorn6358 ; sounds scary to me Clifford ! We live in a different world today for sure. Nice to know you were at Calshot too 👍

[@CaymanIslandsCatWalks]

Bring back national service

[@nickmckay4292]

My Grandfather worked at Short Bros in Rochester as an engineer on the Sunderland, this would’ve broken his heart, remember taking him down to Chatham dockyards to help restorers work out the layout of the interior cabin of one there in the late eighties

[@mrp4731]

The same one. I loved the Sunderland, and visited it many a time before it left Chatham. By chance I saw it fly over the Surrey countryside in 1993, must have been one of her last flights in the UK.

[@cearth]

My late father was a Sunderland pilot in the 50s. He and his crew flew the last military spec mk5 from the UK to the Far East. A wonderful aircraft.

[@andrewmonteith8794]

English engineering???

[@cliffordwaghorn6358]

If he flew that to Singapore in 1953, I think I should have been on that trip! but as I only had less than six months before demob, I couldn't go😥

[@cearth]

Only the other day I dug out his flight log of this trip. After just 6 months of getting this aircraft back to Singapore the squadron was disbanded and the Sunderland were all cut up for scrap. How sad is that. His last log from Singapore was, today is probably the last day I will ever fly a Sunderland. ☹️

[@1946nimrod]

Heavens, was it really 25 years ago? I stood there at Lymington to watch her long, low, slow pass down the Solent to - literally - climb off into the sunset on that fine summer evening. One of those little 'bullet points' in life that will never be forgotten.

[@dr.lexwinter8604]

You got to see something many of us will never get to, you lucky sod!

[@exb.r.buckeyeman845]

Was it flown to America ?

[@exb.r.buckeyeman845]

@@daviddou1408 well dave, maybe I didn’t listen in school, but now I own my home in Cornwall, and a small home in Brittany. Greetings.

[@exb.r.buckeyeman845]

@@daviddou1408 Enjoy the rest of your life.

[@alkatraz8163]

For the record, Kermit Weeks is a retired U.S.Navy pilot and is a legend in the aviation community here in the U.S. We'll take very good care of the old girl, fear not.

[@michaelmarler7016]

Wikipedia makes no mention of Mr. Weeks Naval service.

[@hogey74]

He is and he has! That clown has done so well ... his youtube vids are well worth a look.

[@freightdog208]

Weeks never flew in the military. Not sure where you are getting that from. As far as taking care of the Sunderland, if that was going to happen he wouldn't have let it rot in the first place.

[@jonyoung6405]

He did a flight wearing a military. Flight suit with Warrant Officer ranks. Definitely not Navy retired. Probably never been in the military.

[@mkvv5687]

Trust fund baby. WP doesn't mention mil service, but does say nice things about him and aviation, f'rinstance: "In 2010 he won the Freedom of Flight Award by Bob Hoover." Oh, and this too... "In 2017 Weeks started producing and selling 'Naked in Jamaica', a Jamaican styled Rum..."

[@vespelian5769]

I grew up around one of these birds in Pembroke Dock in West Wales. A white Sunderland flying boat. It was taken away on the back of a lorry in March 1971, with its wings detached making it look like a prehistoric pterosaur and is now in the RAF Museum Hendon.

[@neilc7101]

Brings back fond memories. In 1972 I flew on Beachcomber , operated by Ansett, from Rose Bay Sydney to Lord Howe island and return. It was school holidays and my Father and I spent a week on Lord Howe.

[@oreilly1237878]

They were once moored in Poole just below studland to the left of the ferry .about 20 of them.what a beautifull site they were.roundabout 1946 to1952.i used to gaze down on them as a boy from the glebe estate ,studland one of the most beautifull parts of britain.a fitting resting place for this wondrous beautifull aircraft.ill never forget them and it's as if I can see them now in my mind's eye.they did their bit to keep us free.

[@afterhourshotrods6882]

I did some work for Kermit when his museum was in Kendall So. Fla. I have a scar on my Rt. Arm that a P 51B or C model inflected on me. He packed up his museum and moved to Lakeland Fl. After Hurricane Andrew tore up his place in '92 he lost alot of aircraft in that storm.

[@rogerhowell6269]

A great plane, story and historical preservation! 🤔👍

[@Bolivar2012able]

KERMIT WEEKS HAS LOVINGLY RESTORED THIS PRINCESS OF THE SKIES TO HER ORIGINAL SPECIFICATIONS. SHE'S IN VERY GOOD HANDS!!

[@hodaka1000]

Last time I saw one of his videos about it it hadn't been flown for a number of years and was waiting for work to be done.

[@oxcart4172]

He's going to. He's not done anything yet.

[@acidsunrise]

Great to know.Thanks😁

[@jeffhancox1743]

No. it is on dry land, has lost its certificate of air worthiness, and was never fully restored.

[@exb.r.buckeyeman845]

Was she flown to America ?

[@treefiddy5092]

I may of flewn on this boat in the 1976-7 when I was on holidays in Bournemouth, my father was in the RAF during the war in India and had flown in a Sunderland he was in the metrologist office as weather man who went up in planes to look at cloud formations. We were sitting on the beach inth mid 1970s when out of the blue a Sunderland flew across the bay in front of us and my dad nearly fell out of his deckchair. The flying boats were flying from Portsmouth down the coast and back again giving rides to the public so dad and I went down the road to the Dock and bored the plane for a morale flight. It was great and the best bit was when we landed on the water with a big splash of water.

[@NielMalan]

I paid a visit to Fantasy of Flight especially to see her. It was worth the visit, if only to appreciate her size, which is emphasised when she is seen next to the other aeroplanes in the hangar.

[@kelvinmarshall9108]

Had a big airfix model as a kid ..loved it ..

[@brucegibbins3792]

One of my fondest aviation memories, of which there are several, is watching the last of the RNZAF Sunderland Flying Boats taking off from their facility a Evans Bay, where is the northern approach to Rongotai Airport near Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand. The shore buildings are still there and used for other purposes now unrelated to aviation-boat clubs I think and a Sea Scout Den. The Sunderland Flying Boats then were used as an air link to the Chatham Islands way out from Canterbury province in the South Island te wai paunamu and into the Southern Ocean. Now Saab 340's turbo-prop aircraft make the same journey replacing Convair 240 types. She can be as wild as a rutting Boar out there though, yet as calm and lovely as any island paradise in the Southern Pacific. Way back in the 1960s, the Chatham Islands were better known for catching Crayfish and was a profitable industry supplying the Japanese market that paid high prices for these tasty crustaceans, pricing them mostly out of the local market. Even now, Crayfish are ridiculously expensive denying them to all but lottery winners and wealthy Asian immigrants. But I will not be denied and neither will my wife, a local Tungatawhenua, who see Crayfish as culturally important. So from our meagre government pension and if we use the car sparingly and the parsimonious bastards at the local Australian owned trading bank will advance me a loan, then one day a Crayfish will be ours to eat and enjoy. In the meantime though we will take our pleasure from knowing that other folks in far-away lands are enjoy our taounga as much as we would and if only we could afford their high cost. Not to worry, we still have our Friday evening seafood treat to enjoy - Fish & Chip's.

[@graemedurie9094]

These planes used to fly from Sydney to Lord Howe Island in the '50s. Our parents would drive us down to Rose bay from time to time to see them taking off and landing.

[@KevinFields777]

This very plane was the former Ansett "Islander".

[@graemedurie9094]

@@KevinFields777 Thanks - I was wondering that. Who preceded Ansett in providing that service? I don't think it was ANA. Hard to remember.

[@bran756]

Wow,that’s a shame,I remember building the airfix Sunderland early sixties when I was a boy,but at least she will get the best of care.

[@williamarmstrong7199]

My father was a radio operator on Sunderland flying boats in the Far East, during WWII, flying the American General Douglas MacArther who was in charge of American forces in the Far East from place to place. The flying boat was ideal for the task. Being able to land around the islands and wherever the American Fleet were at the time. My father was specially requested by General MacArther as his radio operator because they got on well together and my fathers North East English accent worked well with radio communications systems they had in those days being clearer to hear through the mush of sideband noise and background aircraft noise.

[@BARNEYFEED]

My old work colleague served out there, he told me one story of anyone and everyone cramming in the Sunderland hull to listen to a Joe Louis fight commentary on the radio! 🙂

[@drnox8268]

I once flew in a Sunderland in 1960 in Papua New Guinea as a babe, my parents more so: Port Moresby, Bougainville, Sohana areas if I recall correctly ? This gets me a bit melancholy. Respects to the peeps keeping these important machines alive.

[@Seansaighdeoir]

My dad saw the original flying boat take off and land on the River Medway where the Short Brothers had their factory in Rochester, Kent. They originally operated out of Rochester Airport before moving down onto the river. Their first works was in Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey where I have an interesting photo of the Short brothers together with the Wright brothers and the team in about 1913 just before they moved over to Rochester. Fantastic piece of history sad to see it go but thanks for sharing.

[@chrisball3634]

What a beauty the Sunderland is! Thanks for posting this.👍👍👍

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

My Uncle flew these in RAAF 10 Squadron for 3 'tours' during WW2, for Coastal Command. Bombed a Jerry sub. Flew Churchill to a conference in Lisbon, Portugal, and landed on the Tagus River. Churchill took the controls, briefly. Uncle Richard flew one back to Australia after the war.

[@fredericksaxton3991]

I stood on top of Calshott Castle and watched her go. Looked wonderful.

[@BLOLite]

I had an older colleague,Sid Smith, who had been a skeet metal worker at Saunders Roe on Southampton Water in the war. One day the factory siren went off for a lone daylight raider just spotted coming in across the Water and everyone ran for the shelters. The bomb stick missed the workshops but fell outside along rhe alleyway in between and killed and injured several of those running for shelter. The watchman who sounded the alarm felt shattered,though it was his duty. Sid was very hard of hearing and said it was 59/50 between metal bashing and the bombs..This was the home front in WW2 that the Sundetlands were defending at aea.

[@jeremytravis360]

My father flew Sunderland flying boats for coastal command during the war. He trained for long range missions and attacking U boats.

[@cptairwolf]

I couldn't think of a better person to own her than Kermit. He's a legend in the world of aviation as far as I'm concerned.

[@Yohann67]

True, he has an incredible passion for aviation history, she will be well cared for.

[@david4272]

Well he’s killed this one. He’s done nothing with it! It seems to be nothing but a trophy for him.

[@ddyodaman5515]

Wow these old birds are so amazing!

[@frankdeluca5983]

I was in Toronto in the summer of 1993 and heard the unmistakable sound of an airplane with multi piston engines....didn't really know what it was and I assumed it was the Lancaster from nearby Hamilton....when in the distance I saw the white fuse of this Saunderland and remember reading that Kermit Weeks had purchased it in England and was ferrying it over at some point....apparently it had made a pitstop at the Toronto Islands for fuel enroute to Florida.....a very pleasant and unique surprise.

[@oakpineranch]

I live near where this airplane is kept now. It hasn’t flown since 1996 according to the owner. He has not done anything to it. It’s actually falling apart. He just made a video about it the other day and it looks like hell.

[@lefunk22]

Randy : Thanks, I was wondering. I actually scrolled comments just to find if anyone had confirmed what I feared - and there it is. I bet he won't consider selling to someone more capable and sensible either. Some people have too much pride combined with too much money but not enough prioritising.

[@gazzaboo8461]

It's almost a pity it wasn't shot down in combat. At least then it would have had a more dignified end.

[@padefort]

Let's not exagerate here.. Take a look at Kermits video "Short Sunderland - Tour Part 1" (&2). The plane is kept in a hangar, protected from the weather. The only thing looking like hell, is the newer interior to make it a passenger version. Pretty sure it will take a lot of maintenance to get it flying again, but no structural restauration needed. It's in any case way better of than it was 30 years ago..

[@guardianobserver6593]

@@padefort If its lost its airworthy certificate, then the problem is bigger than internal decoration.

[@johnjephcote7636]

It flew over the garden near Wedmore, Somerset when I was with my daughter. I remember the Aquila Airways Short Solents at Southampton.

[@greebo7857]

Coastal Command's "Flying Porcupine". Many a JU88 pilot met their match against one of these. If a Yank can spend the money to keep one alive, more power to him.

[@RJSRdg]

Sadly Kermit had to relocate his museum away from the lake, so although he still owns the Sunderland, she hasn't flown for about 10 years or so.

[@Bettiem44]

A gorgeous aircraft! I have an unforgettable, almost dream-like, memory from decades ago, 1964-ish, of standing at a top floor of the Shell Building on the South Bank in London and looking down and seeing a Sunderland take off from the Thames below. I've no idea what it was doing there but, once there, it could hardly not be permitted to take off from there, even though there was not much room for error or mechanical mishap.

[@cliffordwaghorn6358]

I think that must have been earlier than that, I came out RAF in 53 and think they stopped flying just after🤠🤔After I came out the rest of the crew crashed and sank on the Thames I seem to remember, I know one of crew got George medal for saving one other.

[@lovejetfuel4071]

When going to Epcot center back in the day (1995) I remember seeing the Fantasy of flight billboard on i4. Always wanted to go there. Good memories

[@Terry-Tibbs]

Kermits channel on KZbin is well worth a watch . The man is a legend

[@Doggeslife]

Whew! When a story begins with "last flight", I worry about another hull loss and lost souls. Glad the outcome was much brighter.

[@cregan55]

Great aircraft,was inside it at Kermit Weeks facility in Florida 7-8 years ago,sadly it wasnt restored at that time,love to see it in WW2 form!

[@baddadjive8996]

I was on this flight! Amazing! 😊😊

[@MrWmburr7]

Magnificent piece of history! I'm glad it is being saved.

[@overbank56]

I love flying boats! There's just something romantic about them.

[@muffs55mercury61]

"Last flights" just make me sick and want to cry. What's the point of spending millions and then never flying it? We've lost so much history that way.

[@xjr1300nut]

My late father-in-law flew these out of there doing Air Sea Rescue and submarine watch in the Bay of Biscay during WW2

[@hairybustard4247]

Paddy was killed when he jumped from a fifteen storey building right after mick told him his father flew wellingtons during the war

[@belfastbrit]

I have actually been in this aircraft at Fantasy of Flight in Polk, Florida. It was at the time open to the public to walk through. Unfortunately it was damaged internally by a party of 'Boy Scouts' I believe and is no longer available to walk through, but still worth a look if anywhere near Polk.

[@lunhil12]

I have an Airfix kit of the short Sunderland waiting to be built when my painting skills are up to it. I love the look of this flying boat.

[@davidevans389]

I flew in this plane whilst it was being restored. Took off in Southampton Water, flew down the western Solent and then round the Needles. Back via a low pass over Southampton airport where I was lucky enough to be stood behind the pilot. What a shame it went to the US.

[@anthonyhitchings1051]

used to hear/see them as a kid in Auckland , New Zealand

[@franklinrwful]

Great little museum Solent Sky.

[@gordonmckenzie926]

Lovely aircraft.

[@danielbarton9291]

Saw this fly over my school in Whitley Bay back in the late 80s or early 90s and couldn't believe it. I got told off for staring at it out the window instead of playing badminton but I knew what it was and wouldn't miss an opportunity like that for the world. Teacher didn't see anything special, "just an aeroplane" maybe he was blind!!. She must have overflown Sunderland before the time of sale to Mr Weeks as I'm sure it was closer to 1990 when I saw her. My Dad believed me and was terribly cheesed off when he realised he had missed it. I'd love to know when she was in the north east of England. The museum was closed to visitors except by appointment when we went in summer 2019.

[@hugebartlett1884]

You often seem to be surrounded by people who are just bloody ignorant of the fantastic aircraft which we built in those days. We had men of incredible vision and ability,who in spite of government procrastination still put their inventions into the air just in time. I like to recall the names of those pioneers,nearly all of whom are gone,mostly disappearing shortly after the war,no longer required,or even remembered. It should be taught in schools that but for those men we wouldn't be here.

[@raymondo162]

@@hugebartlett1884 this once-proud nation has spawned a land of 'hospitality' and 'experiences'. ffs

[@chrisl8873]

My grandfather flew them pre WW2 for Imperial Airways, lake hopped to South Africa.

[@torresinfesta643]

What a beauty

[@mauricelevy9027]

The Sunderland was a gracious old bird,some were stationed near Felixstowe in the early 1950s .Fortunately ,there is one in Duxford War Museum still.

[@falcon664]

Gracious is a great description. There is an elegance to these piston engine powered planes especially when they take off.

[@petereverett2018]

A brilliant day out at this museum and too explore the Sunderland is terrific

[@windyworm]

Oh that’s where it went!!! I saw two (I think) in Southampton on a trip to the Isle of Wight. My friend’s dad flew them during the war. They once forced an unmarked Liberator to emergency land en-route to its airfield in the UK. They challenged the Liberator but it wasn’t equipped with a suitable radio and on failing to respond and not recognising the aircraft from the identification charts, they started shooting. Ooops

[@TranceTrousers]

I've been to the Solent Sky museum, it's great and well worth a visit if you're in the area :-)

[@chiselcheswick5673]

Brilliant to see it fly. Such a shame the other 4 engine short, the Stirling are all gone.

[@luizavelinolavanddacosta9884]

Sou entusiasta deste tipo de aeronave, que engenharia maravilhosa, algo para os britânicos orgulharem-se.

[@Discotekh_Dynasty]

My grandfather was the navigator on one, he had some great stories moving these around after the war

[@RJSRdg]

The takeoff wasn't quite her goodbye to Britain - she did a flypast over her old base at Pembroke Dock on the journey to Florida - by chance I was lucky to see it.

[@jerpatee]

Served 1953-56 at PD marine craft unit ferried the crews, refuelled them etc and a wonderful sight was to see them touch down when the step just touched the water.

[@johnthomss5962]

I remember them in service at Pembroke Dock. I think they stopped around 1957!

[@swanseajaffa]

Pembroke was the biggest flying boat station in the world and they use to fly from there over to the Bay of Biscay sub hunting. There's a sunken flying boat in the harbour at Pembroke , if I remember rightly it was new ( around 40 ish hours flying time ) in landed and was anchored but a storm blew up and fractured the skin around the anchor mounting on the nose of the aircraft and it sank. After the Board of Enquiry investigation they modified the design of the aircraft to have a water proof bulkhead between the anchoring point and the rest of the aircraft. If you have the opportunity visit the Flying Boat Museum based in the club house in Pembroke as its fascinating.

[@ushoys]

1957 is indeed when they closed the flying boat base in Pembroke Dock, but don’t know if they still had Sunderlands then.

[@petergraves2085]

@@ushoys One of the paintings in the Australian War Memorial here in Canberra is titled "A Sunderland Crew Comes Ashore at Pembroke Dock" www.awm.gov.au/collection/C174756 and the painting is here www.awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions/stella/detail-p5-i65

[@swanseajaffa]

One of the Sunderland club members told me that when they were given a flying Sunderland by the French government, because if its air worthy certificate it wasn't allowed by the UK authority to fly overland and it had to go the long way around to Pembroke. The RAF had a Squadron that use to fly Sunderland's during the war and they escorted it in with 2 aircraft. When the Sunderland was on the approach to land the 2 escorting aircraft peeled away - must have been a awesome sight. Because the club didn't have the cash or facilities to maintain the Sunderland they donated it and this aircraft is now the one displayed at the RAF museum.

[@cliffordwaghorn6358]

I was stationed there in 1951 then moved to Calshot, used to try and drop water bombs from under the step on Nayland ferry passengers.😁

[@lisakingscott7729]

Wrong aspect ratio on playback spoils this. It looks as though it should be 4:3, but it plays as 1:1 or even narrower, with black bars either side filling up the 4:3 area.

[@activat20]

I was lucky enough to see her flying whilst in the New Forest. A long way off, even then I expected never to see a repeat. From Lee on Solent the tail was easily seen while she was being rebuilt to fly.

[@lesliemackay7853]

So at 1:38 it was talking about Shorts of Belfast, also built in Dumbarton? The Titanic was obviously english, it sailed under an english company from an english port.

[@andrewdonohue1853]

i can relate to how the british people must of feel about it. we had MATS lockheed connie that was sold to the koreans. i was very upset and unhappy about the whole thing. kermit weeks takes good care of the sunderland, he hasnt flown it in a number of years but it is being properly stored and maintained, hopefully one day he flies it again. what a majestic airplane.

[@generalyellor8188]

I'm watching this 1993 video from a bygone era about people mourning the loss of a reminder of a bygone era.

[@grahamcarey8755]

Would you believe a high-ranking RAF type having a joyride in one of these during the airshow at the opening of the Wellington (NZ) airport took the controls and tried to land it on the runway ? Scraped quite a chunk off the keel, I believe, before the RNZAF crew got control back, and managed to run it up on the ramp at Shelley Beach before it sank.

[@user-hj2vy4sk8j]

I've gone down the quarantine rabbit hole lol

[@model-man7802]

Saw this plane in Florida!

[@stuartbaker6339]

I remember seeing this on the news when I was 14 , I have no idea why it pop up on youtube.

[@tonyhedgewolf]

My first ever Airfix model kit 😊

[@TheGearhead222]

For all of your Weeks admirers out there, read up on Cole Palen and Rhinebeck Airdrome-BESIDES being a WWII vet, he created Rhinebeck Airdrome from scratch and used it, much elbow grease and various barnstorming endeavors to finance his collection of WWI airplanes. Rhinebeck Airdrome still exists , although Cole passed on a long time ago.....

[@johntripp5159]

A hero of mine

[@TheGearhead222]

An amazing guy-he donated an ALL ORIGINAL and functioning SPAD to the Smithsonian-John in Texas

[@dutchman7216]

Is it still operational ???

[@GT380man]

I recall seeing the odd flying boat in the 1970s, when I lived on Hayling Island, adjacent to the RAF base on Thorney Island & 15miles east of Portsmouth harbour. Also much in evidence then were Lockheed four engined transports (Hercules) aircraft. I could hear any multi engined four strokes taking off because the Hercules took ages to get airborne!

[@MrAvant123]

Pity there was no mention of the Sunderlands that were extensively based in Pembroke Dock as being much further west they could get out over the Eastern Atlantic approaches much better...

[@mikeryan3701]

They also operated out of Oban on the west coast of Scotland.

[@garypugh1153]

Hey i walked thru it at kermits place. Very nice 🇺🇸

[@billmorris2613]

Good morning from St John Parish, Louisiana 08 Oct 20.

[@funkydozer]

aspect ratio makes this Sunderland very short indeed

[@ericlakota1847]

Love the old videos how young Kermit was imagin if men like him lived to 1000 years old world would be so different

[@drewburt4315]

A British plane with American engines? Makes me feel a little better that at least some Brits didn't consider every last thing we manufactured in the US during WW2 to be a complete piece of junk. After reading all the America bashing that's done in comments on other aerospace videos, that's like a breath of fresh air. Maybe those people should watch this.

[@lesliemackay7853]

It's not that everything that the US built in WW2 was crap it's the American attitude that everything that the US didn't build in WW2 was crap.

[@derekcockburn820]

I had to laugh at the man saying English engineering. Some of the Sunderland flying boats were built in Dumbarton in Scotland, the huge building still exists, and the planes as stated had Pratt & Whitney engines!!!

[@cliffordwaghorn6358]

I hated those engines, Radials, Had to hand wind them over to prevent getting a hydraulic lock when starting as bottom cylinders got full of oil when standing😨😎🤠

[@timhancock6626]

Kermit Weeks probably over stretched himself in my estimation as he has struggled to maintain it let alone fly or restore it to a wartime spec. The mosquito he bought has become a static exhibit. I'm not doubting his intentions, but they are money pits and the deep and sustained engineering commitment these aircraft require is vast, and he has so many other aircraft, you can't fix them all up can you.

[@lefunk22]

Thanks. That's exactly what I suspected! How depressing. The phrase "more money than brains" comes to mind. * sigh *

[@hekatoncheiros208]

@@lefunk22 More money than brains is a bit harsh. Weeks has done some amazing restorations and his collection is fantastic, but yes, he does seem to have a number of aircraft that he will never get around to. His two Hawker Tempests don't seem to be progressing.

[@cadetreynolds1362]

You know what they say " once a mackem, always a mackem". A great war time plane, very fine English engineering indeed.

[@diwemdiwem8382]

What a wonderful Aircraft, I can't understand why they stopped, production of such, a. Magnificent flying boat, there's huge potential for such Aircraft, I would dearly like to have some, in Australia today, the potential in enormous, thanks so much.

[@peejpom]

Ansett Australia was operating them Sydney to Lord Howe until approx 1975. I lived in Kirribilli and watched the last one take off from Rose Bay having been sold to an American, civil version was known as the Sandringham.

[@peterk2455]

@@peejpom That is the same aircraft, it was converted for the LH Island run in Sydney, bought by Hulton, who sold it to Kermit Weeks.

[@paulorchard7960]

Could not fly it in Australia now, some flying water bug may have a serious coming together with a spinning propellor! Absolutely tragic!

[@nickdanger3802]

Mark V Australian Sunderland crews suggested that the Pegasus engines be replaced by Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp engines. The new engines with new Hamilton Hydromatic constant-speed fully feathering propellers provided greater performance with no real penalty in range. In particular, a Twin Wasp Sunderland could stay airborne if two engines were knocked out on the same wing while, in similar circumstances, a standard Mark III would steadily lose altitude. A total of 155 Sunderland Mark Vs were built with another 33 Mark IIIs converted to Mark V specification. wiki

[@jackguthrie1542]

So sorry I never got to fly on one! Absolutely Wonderful plane.

[@cliffordwaghorn6358]

Only bit I liked on them was the Galley! could go for a tea and a smoke🤠😁 Wasn't great fun standing on the wing on cold wet freezing night after a ten hour flight as couldn't leave boat without refuelling due fear that it would turn over if storm came up. Wonderful yes Primitive yes loved it though😍

[@christiankastorf1427]

A parody on the famous "Lilli Marleen" verses was sung by German submariners: "From the clouds, out of the fog, dives upon us a Sunderland. Yes, when we then go into the depths, we won't stop till 3000 feet, and won't be seen again." They named it " Fliegendes Stachelschwein", Flying Pocupine". Three years after the war Sunderlands took part in the Berlin airlift. The British took off from a lake at Lübeck and landed on the Havel lakes in Berlin.

[@greghelms4458]

Is this aircraft still at FOF?

[@jeffreyoneill6439]

There was also a fleet of them in the harbor Of Bowmore on Isle of Islay. My father was stationed there in the war. Thomas O’Neill. Motorcycle despatch rider.

[@georgejacob3162]

1:44. Nice of Nigel Mansell to turn up to watch her fly away!

[@ferrelx]

I live full time in a class "A" motorhome..some RV KZbinrs with RV channels have switched to boats..I tell you what..if I got a truck load of money I would live in one of these..😎

[@chinabluewho]

Definitely thinking of switching to large sea worthy sailing/motorized boat when I retire in ten years instead of a motorhome, No neighbors and you can travel much more without the police bothering you , still looking for a light weight electric portable scooter to meet my needs when I go on shore.

[@ferrelx]

@@chinabluewho Well..it depends on what type of traveling you want brother..if your a solitary soul then Boondocking is for you and you can be the only person for miles and there is enough BLM land across the USA to last a lifetime..now law enforcement..touchy subject with me..my motorhome is my home and you ain't comin in without a warrant no matter what your drug dog says.. Maritime law enforcement can board you at will..also boats are 10 times more expensive to own and operate than a RV..hit me up if you want a head start on the Gypsy lifestyle and you can check out what 30 grand can get you by going to my channel and look at my 3 part walk around of my current coach.. I know its not electric but I just purchased a lime green Ice Bear Champion 125..its a clone of the 70's Honda mini trail 70..but has a bigger engine and electric start..it's a hoot 😁

[@chinabluewho]

@@ferrelx The last time i got pulled over and searched ('92) was for looking suspicious, I was handcuffed and searched and my car was rummaged through and searched as they told me I "looked suspicious" so they had the legal right, las Vegas bike cops, we live in a police (facists) state, people simply refuse to admit it.

[@ferrelx]

@@chinabluewho Brother I feel your pain..a lot of the states we travel through have a strong "policing for profit" presence..fortunately some of the counties have been called out and this egregious policy has cost them dearly..go to the youtube channel Steve Lehto/Lehto's Law..he covers all you would want to know about your civil rights..keep the faith..

[@thangamajig]

Does Weeks still got all his stuff goin on ?

[@glynjones5280]

I always wanted to fly in one of those big boys

[@rrocketman]

It's really awesome

[@madrafboy]

"English engineering", I'm sure Shorts of Belfast will love that remark. (1:37)

[@davidjones332]

Well, the prototype and most production aircraft were built at Rochester.

[@rogerturner5504]

A total of 749 Sunderlands were built, at four factories. 331 were built at Short’s original base at Rochester and another 133 at their new factory in Belfast (operated as Short & Harland). 250 were built at Blackburn’s Dumbarton factory, and 35 at a plant on the shores of Windermere.

[@dandare6865]

Ahh i wish we still had flying boats.

[@colinbarron4]

The news report mentioned that Kermit has two Mosquitoes. Is that right ? I know he has B.35 RS712. What is the other one? I am sure he only has one.

[@StonyRC]

One of the things I've always admired about Americans is the reverence with which they treat historically important objects and places. They show far more respect and care than we in the UK do and as such they deserve the Sunderland FAR more than us. At least it will be preserved and well cared for, rather than left to decay!

[@johnorford7317]

Pratt and Whitney engines? The originals were Bristol Pegasus.

[@johntripp5159]

Try finding Bristol Pegasus engine spares as opposed to the acres of P+W radials. KW is rich but not as obsessed as most aircraft collectors and if there's only one like the Spruce Goose for example it should remain static anyway.

[@Ratty98]

They were replaced during the war or just after same engines as the pby i believe

[@PersonaGrip]

My dad said his Sunderland flew much, MUCH better after it got the Wasp engines. He flew it over Ceylon in WWII. RCAF

[@davidjones332]

The Mk V had Pratt & Whitneys from new. The Pegasus had to be run flat-out for hours to cope with the weight and the wear was excessive, so a more powerful engine was needed..

[@nandolopes9897]

Prat & Whitney engines are miles ahead of any british engine.

[@petehall889]

Bless her - sad we couldn't keep her here.