Short Brothers S45 Solent MK.IV - T.E.A.L (Tasman Empire Airways Ltd)
ZK-AMO - RMA “Aranui”
Ordered and built for T.E.A.L, by the Short Brothers & Harland of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It arrived in New Zealand on November 29th, 1949 and was the last of the large flying boats to be built. It served Trans Tasman and the new “Coral Route”, which serviced the Pacific Islands of Fiji - Western Samoa - Cook Islands - Tahati - Tonga - Auckland. THis aircraft operated the final “Coral Route” on the 15th of September 1960, was withdrawn from use, and gifted to the Museum Of Transport And Technology ( MOTAT ) The aircraft is currently beng restored and is on static display inside the new purpose built hanger at the museum.
{Model is a PACMIN 1/144 scale.}
