ZK-AMM Short S-45 Solent Flying Boat

This aircraft was ordered new by Tasman Empire Airways Limited - ?

Built by Short Brothers and Harland, Belfast, Northern Ireland

It had an all-up take-off weight of 81,000 lb (36,740 kg) and a still-air range of 3,000 miles / 4,830 km

It was configured to seat 44 passengers

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register - November 03, 1948

First flown at Belfast as ZK-AMM - ?

The aircraft was named 'Ararangi' (Pathway in the Heavens)

Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) Issued - ?

Departed Belfast on the delivery flight to New Zealand - September 1949

Arrived Auckland on completion of the delivery flight - September 29, 1949

Flight crew: Captains C. Griffiths, F. Kilgour

This was the first of the five Solents to be delivered to TEAL

It operated the inaugural Auckland - Sydney Solent service (Captains A. Jury, T. Brewer) - November 19, 1949

Operated the inaugural Wellington - Sydney Solent service (Captain C. Griffiths) - October 3. 1950

Aircraft struck by 1.3 metre wave that tore off float and damaged wing at Evans Bay, Wellington - October 17, 1950

It was repaired at Wellington and returned to service

It operated the inaugural Wellington - Chatham Islands Solent service - December 15, 1950

Damaged whilst landing at Evans Bay, Wellington (Captain P. Le Couteur) - October 18, 1951

It was caught in 55 mph wind gust that ripped off the starboard float and stoved in 3 windows on the lower deck

It was repaired at Wellington and returned to service

It operated final Wellington - Chatham Islands - Wellington service (Capts C. Le Couteur, M. Wallace) - April 7, 1954

Withdrawn from use and stored at Auckland - May 28, 1954

This aircraft was badly damaged by fire during routine servicing at Auckland - early 1955

Scrapping commenced at Auckland - June 12, 1956

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - June 15, 1956

ZK-AMM. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'RMA Ararangi' in the standard livery at Auckland Mechanics Bay, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-345.)

ZK-AMM. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'RMA Ararangi' in the standard livery at Auckland Mechanics Bay, date unknown.

View of the upper deck looking aft.

(P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 2545-862.)

ZK-AMM. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'RMA Ararangi' in the standard livery at Auckland Mechanics Bay, circa 1949.

(P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 2545-861.)

ZK-AMM. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'RMA Ararangi' in the standard livery at Auckland Mechanics Bay, October 07, 1949.

(P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 2545-927.)

ZK-AMM. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'RMA Ararangi' in the standard livery at Auckland Mechanics Bay, October 07, 1949.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 2545-923.)

ZK-AMM. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'RMA Ararangi' in the standard livery at Auckland Mechanics Bay, October 07, 1949.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 2545-926.)

ZK-AMM. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'RMA Ararangi' in the standard livery at Wellington Evans Bay, October 18, 1949.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 2545-922.)

ZK-AMM. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'RMA Ararangi' in the standard livery at Sydney Rose Bay, October 24, 1949.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 2545-930.)

ZK-AMM. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'RMA Ararangi' in the standard livery at Sydney Rose Bay, October 24, 1949.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 2545-929.)

ZK-AMM. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'RMA Ararangi' in the standard livery at Auckland Mechanics Bay, circa 1950.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 2545-924.)

ZK-AMM. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'RMA Ararangi' in the standard livery at Auckland Mechanics Bay, March 24, 1950.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 2545-925.)

ZK-AMM. Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'RMA Ararangi' in the revised livery at Papeete, October 1952.