VH-EBW Short S-25 Sandringham Mk 4

This aircraft was built by Short Bros at Rochester, Kent as a Sunderland Mk III - 1944

It was originally allocated the Construction Number 'SB.4634'

Delivered to Royal Air Force as 'ML761' at Wig Bay, Calshot - March 07, 1944

Transferred to No. 57 Maintenance Unit, Wig Bay - April 09, 1944

Transferred to R.A.F. Coastal Reserve Division, Hellensburg - April 24, 1944

Returned to No. 57 Maintenance Unit, Wig Bay - July 23, 1945

Transferred to Short Bros & Harland, Belfast for conversion to a Sunderland Mk V - 1945

Returned to No. 57 Maintenance Unit, Wig Bay - January 02, 1946

Sold to Short Bros & Harland, Belfast as being surplus to requirements - March 18, 1946

This aircraft was taxied the 62 kms from Wig Bay to Belfast, Ireland - March 18, 1946

Converted to Sandringham Mk IV Tasman Class by Short Bros & Harland at Belfast

This conversion included seating for 30 passengers

It was allocated the Short Conversion Number 'SH.30C'

Transferred to the UK Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation

The aircraft was named 'RMA Tasman' and was relaunched at Belfast - July 01, 1946

The Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA 7964) issued - July 01, 1946

The aircraft was handed over to Tasman Empire Airways Ltd at Hythe - July 05, 1946

Departed Poole on the ferry flight to Australia (BOAC Captain D. Travers) - July 10, 1946

Departed Sydney (Rose Bay) on the final leg of the ferry flight to New Zealand - July 17, 1946

Flight crew: Captain D. Travers (London - Sydney); TEAL Captain A. V. Jury (Sydney - Auckland), F/O J. R. McGrane

Arrived at Auckland on completion of the ferry flight - July 17, 1946

Leased to Tasman Empire Airways Ltd (TEAL) - July 17, 1946

Entered onto the New Zealand Aircraft Register as ZK-AMB - July 25, 1946

Registered to Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL), Auckland

To view the 'New Zealand Certificate of Airworthiness' click 'HERE'

All TEAL Sandringhams were withdrawn from service due to engine overheating problems - February 23, 1948

Returned to service following rectification of engine problems - June 17, 1948

Operated its final TEAL revenue service Sydney (Rose Bay) - Auckland as TE442-030 - December 14, 1949

Flight time: 7 hours 46 minutes

Stored at Hobsonville, Auckland having flown 3,331 hours 14 minutes

Sold to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd - March 31, 1950

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EBW - April 24, 1950

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Limited, Sydney

This aircraft was not named

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - October 27, 1950

It was damaged during a landing accident at Sydney (Rose Bay) - April 04, 1951

The aircraft was under the command of Captain H. M. Birch

The aircraft lost a float and the wing was extensively damaged but it was repaired and returned to service

This aircraft was damaged beyond repair at Vila, New Hebrides - June 10, 1951

Whilst taxiing for take-off the aircraft struck coral in the harbour puncturing the hull in several places

All passengers and crew and were evacuated successfully as aircraft settled in the water

The aircraft was under the command of Captain P. J. R. Shields

It was raised but declared a write-off due to salt water immersion

The aircraft was later scuttled in a deeper part of the harbour for use as a diving attraction

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - July 19, 1951