G-ADHL Short S-23 Empire Boat

This was the first Empire boat to be completed and flown by Short Bros at Rochester, Kent

The order was placed by Imperial Airways, London - January 24, 1935

The official written order shows the cost of the aircraft at UKP 37,800 - February 19, 1935

Converted to present day values this would be approximately UKP 3,417,876

Built as an S.23 Empire Class Mk.1 flying boat having 920 h.p. Bristol Pegasus Xc poppet-valve radial engines

It was sometimes referred to as the 'prototype' Empire flying boat but this was incorrect

It was always intended from the very beginning that it would be an 'active-working' aircraft

It was fitted with the 'Type 1' fuel system - consisting of two fuel tanks of 326 gallons each

The fuel tanks were mounted in the wing, positioned between the inner and outer engine

This provided a flight duration of approximately 5 hours

Its range in still air was 684 nm (1,270 km) or against a 35kt headwind the range was 517 nm (960 km)

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-ADHL (CofR 5881) - June 17, 1935

Registered to Imperial Airways Ltd, Victoria Station, London

It was allocated a 'Fleet Number' (No. 1) which was used in all operational records to identify the aircraft

Launched on the Medway River at Rochester without cabin fittings - July 02, 1936

The aircraft was named 'Canopus'

Taxy trials carried out by the Short Brothers' Chief Test Pilot, John Lankester Parker - July 03, 1936

However as the aircraft had performed so well he decided to take-off and flew over Rochester for 14 minutes

This was its unofficial 'first flight'

A minor problem with the operation of the aircraft's flap system was encountered and this was quickly solved

The official 'first flight' as 'G-ADHL' ( John L. Parker) flown - July 04, 1936

Test flown (one hour) to confirm that all minor identified issues had been rectified - July 06, 1936

During its fourth test flight (J. L. Parker) an engine failed during the 'take-off' run - July 10, 1936

The take-off was continued, climbed to required altitude, circled and returned to alight without further incident

Position error checks conducted - July 13, 1936

During the next 6 - 7 weeks 'Canopus' underwent stringent testing of all systems and equipment to ensure that the design

of the aircraft was robust and it would perform in accordance with the written specifications

Test flown (Rochester) at 'full-load' weight - September 09, 1936

Following this flight the aircraft was beached for the interior 'fit-out' and 'furnishing' of the passenger cabins

Relaunched at Rochester - September 17, 1936

Test flown (Major Herbert Brackley - Air Superintendent of Imperial Airways) - September 18 & 19, 1936

Test flown (J. L. Parker) with passengers - October 05, 1936

Passengers included: Lord Swinton (Minister for Air); Sir Edward Ellington (Chief of Air Staff); and their parties

Test flown / demonstration flight (J. L. Parker) - October 06, 1936

Passengers included: Directors of Imperial Airways including Sir Eric Geddes and Sir John Reith

Test flown (J. L. Parker) to test the Sperry auto-pilot to invited guests - October 06, 1936

Passengers included: Sir Samuel Hoare (the First Lord) and the Board of the Admiralty and guests

Test flown (J. L. Parker) for fuel consumption test - October 09, 1936

Following this test flight the aircraft underwent the final fit-out prior to 'introduction to service'

Test flown (J. L. Parker) for 20 minutes - October 20, 1936

The Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA No. 5694) issued - October 20, 1936

Two test flights flown (Major H. Brackley) - October 20, 1936

Following these test flights Major Brackley officially accepted the aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness and took

delivery of 'Canopus' on behalf of Imperial Airways

Departed Rochester (Major H. Brackley) on its first route-proving flight to Caudebec (France) - October 22, 1936

On arrival at Caudebec the aircraft was delayed by bad weather

Flown Caudebec - Hourtin - October 24, 1936

Flown Hourtin - Marseilles - Rome (Lake Bracciano) - October 25, 1936

Flown Rome (Lake Bracciano) - Brindisi - October 26, 1936

Flight crew: Captain F. J. (Frank) Bailey; F/O S. Long

Flown Brindisi - Athens - Mirabella - Alexandria - October 27, 1936

Flight crew: Captain F. J. (Frank) Bailey; F/O S. Long

Operated its first scheduled Empire Flying Boat service Alexandria - Brindisi as Flight IW490 - October 30, 1936

Flight crew: Captain F. J. (Frank) Bailey; F/O S. Long

Whilst operating Athens - Alexandria as Flight AS412 the aircraft suffered an engine fire - January 10, 1937

The P.I.C. elected to make an emergency landing onto the Mediterranean Sea near Crete

The aircraft was then taxied to the nearest port - Mirabella (Crete)

The burnt-out engine was removed and a metal cocoon was fabricated and fitted to the engine's position

It departed Mirabella on the ferry flight to England via Macon (France) for repairs - January 29, 1937

Repaired and returned to service Hythe - Alexandria as Flight IE531 - March 14, 1937

Operated its inaugural Southampton - Durban service as Flight AS453 - June 02 - 08, 1937

Flight crew: Capt. E. H. G. Attwood

It carried 5 passengers and 1,032 pounds (469 kg) of mail on this flight

This aircraft was part of the aircraft pool operated by Imperial Airways and Qantas Empire Airways

on services between Southampton, England and Sydney, Australia

Qantas Empire Airways crews flew the aircraft on the Sydney - Singapore - Sydney sector of this route

between July 1938 and October 15, 1941

Qantas Empire Airways crews then took over the Singapore - Karachi - Singapore sector of the route

from October 15, 1941 to February 15, 1942 when operations ceased due to Japanese war activities in South-East Asia

Following the outbreak of World War II, 'Canopus' and all the other Empire Flying Boats were placed under

the jurisdiction of 'National Air Communications' - August 31, 1939

Imperial Airways and the original British Airways were merged to form

British Overseas Airways Corporation - April 01, 1940

Following Italy's entry into World War II, air routes across the Mediterranean Sea were closed - June 10, 1940

When this occurred 'Canopus' was enroute to Karachi from Singapore

It returned to Singapore and remained there for 5 weeks, awaiting further instructions

The 'Allied Airways Joint Committee' replaced the 'National Air Communications' - June 27, 1940

Under these organisations, the 'Empire' flying boats could be commandeered at any time or place for sometimes very

secret and rather dangerous operations, depending on the wartime requirement

It operated Singapore - Durban as Flight WS6 - July 28 - August 06, 1940

The aircraft was then based at Durban

Ownership was officially transferred to British Overseas Airways Corporation - August 27, 1940

'Canopus' was fitted with three additional 220 gallon fuel tanks at Durban - ? 1940

This effectively doubled the range of the aircraft

It was also refitted with four Pegasus XXII engines of 1,010 hp at Durban - ? 1940

It was operated on the 'Horseshoe Route' linking Durban to Sydney until Singapore fell to the advancing

Japanese Army - February 15, 1942

It operated its last commercial service operating Cairo - Durban as Flight 2E630 - September 07 - 10, 1946

Ferried Durban - Poole (England) - October 12 - 16, 1946

It was offered to the Poole City Council for preservation but the offer was turned down

Ferried Poole - Hythe - October 17, 1946

All useful equipment was then removed from the aircraft at Hythe

Cancelled from the British Aircraft Register - November 12, 1946

It was the towed to Marchwood on Southampton Water - January 23, 1947

It was broken up at Marchwood by R. J. Coley and Sons, Ltd

'Canopus' had flown a total of 15,200 hours and approximately 2,000,000 miles