This float plane was built by Short Brothers (Rochester & Bedford) Ltd, Rochester

It was built as an experimental long range mail aircraft to be operated across the Atlantic Ocean

It was designed in conjunction with 'Maia' being the lower component of the combination

It was designed by Arthur Gouge, Chief Designer, Short Bros and

Robert H. Mayo, the Technical General Manager of Imperial Airways, London

The contract based on the Specification 13/33 was placed with Short Brothers - 1935

Estimated cost of approximately UKL 600,000 was to be shared equally between the Treasury and Imperial Airways

Built as an S-22 Scion Senior and modified to be a float plane

It was powered by 365 hp Napier-Halford Rapier VI6 engines

It had an empty weight of 10,163 lb (4,614 kg); an all-up solo weight of 15,500 lb (7,030 kg)

It had an all-up weight for composite launching of 20,800 lb (9,443 kg)

It had an all-up weight for the composite launch on the Cape Flight of 26,800 lb (12,160 kg)

It had a maximum solo speed of 212 m.p.h. (339 km/hr) or 195 m.p.h. (314 km/hr) at maximum weight

It had a range of 3,900 miles (6,240 km) when engaged in a normal composite launch

It had a range of 6,100 miles (9,820 km) for the Cape Flight

Entered onto the British Aircraft Register as G-ADHJ (CofR 5875) - June 17, 1935

Launched on the Medway River at Rochester - September 05, 1937

First flown from the Medway River (Captain John L. Parker) - September 05, 1937

This test flight lasted 15 minutes

The second test flight of 40 minutes duration was flown as a handling test flight - September 06, 1937

The Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA 6342) Issued - September 06, 1937

The aircraft was named 'Mercury'

It was displayed to the press at Rochester - September 08, 1937

The aircraft was mated with 'Maia' to form the 'Short Mayo Composite' - January 01, 1938

An initial taxying trial of 1 hour was undertaken - January 01, 1938

Captain John L. Parker was in 'Maia' and Captain Harold Piper was in 'Mercury'

The second taxying trial of 45 minutes was completed - January 03, 1938

The Composite aircraft successfully rode out a gale at its moorings - January 1938

The third taxying trial of 40 minutes was completed - January 19, 1938

During the taxying trials Bill Hambrook stood atop 'Maia' to observe the release gear

The first flight (20 minutes duration) of the combined 'Mayo Composite' took place - January 20, 1938

First successful 'Mayo Composite' separation near Rochester - February 06, 1938

Further test flying occured in the Felixstowe area of Suffolk ready for trans-Atlantic operations

The first long-haul trial carried out - July 14, 1938

The 'Mercury' was launched from 'Maia' over Southampton and flew 2,040 miles to Foynes and out over the

Atlantic Ocean and returned to Southampton for a flight duration of 12 hours

During this flight 'Mercury' established radio contact with Foynes and Botwood (Newfoundland)

First trans-Atlantic flight from Foynes (Ireland) - Boucherville (Montreal, Canada) - July 21, 1938

As well as the weight of 'Mercury' 'Maia' carried 10 passengers and luggage to Foynes after the successful separation

Flight crew: Captain A. S. Wilcockson (Maia); Captain Don Bennett (Mercury)

The distance from Foynes to Boucherville was 2,930 miles or 4,714 kms

'Mercury' was launched over Foynes at a gross weight of 20,800 lb including 600 lb of payload

comprising of newspapers, press photographs and movie newsreels

On separation 'Maia' would drop down whilst 'Mercury' would assume a climbing attitude

'Mercury' had a range of some 6,000 miles and the flight was completed it 20 hours 21 minutes

This equated to an average ground speed of 144 m.p.h. (232 kts)

On arrival at Monreal 'Mercury' had some 80 gallons of fuel remaining in the tanks

This equated to just 54 gallons burnt per hour which was much lower than anticipated

It was decided to attempt to set a new world record for a non-stop distance flight by seaplane - September 1938

The attempt would involve 'Mercury' flying from Dundee (Scotland) to Capetown (South Africa)

Preparations for this flight were undertaken by Short Bros at Rochester

The floats were strengthened and sealed to enable extra fuel to be carried

'Mercury' was launched from 'Maia' near Dundee - October 06, 1938

Severe headwinds and tropical thunderstorms slowed the flight

The electric fuel pump in the floats failed and fuel had to be hand-pumped to the wing tanks

'Mercury' alighted on the Orange River near Alexander Bay having flown 6,045 miles in just over 42 hours

Flight operations to Botwood were suspended due to ice condition until the summer months of 1939

'Mercury' was transferred to Felixstowe for use by RAF No. 320 Squadron

This was a Dutch seaplane reconnaisance unit attached to the RAF based at Pembroke Dock

'Mercury' was registered to B.O.A.C. - August 27, 1940

This aircraft was returned to Short Brothers at Rochester - August 09, 1941

It was broken-up and its aluminium recycled for the war effort

G-ADHJ. Imperial Airways - 'Mercury' in the standard livery on the Medway River, Rochester, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-289.)

G-ADHJ & G-ADHK. Imperial Airways - 'Maia' & 'Mercury' in the standard livery on the Medway River, Rochester, January 1938.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-290.)

G-ADHJ. & G-ADHK. Imperial Airways - 'Maia' & 'Mercury' in the standard livery on the Medway River, Rochester, January 1938.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-817.)

G-ADHJ. & G-ADHK. Imperial Airways - 'Maia' & 'Mercury' in the standard livery somewhere near Rochester, February 06, 1938.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-291.)

G-ADHJ. & G-ADHK. Imperial Airways - 'Maia' & 'Mercury' in the standard livery somewhere near Rochester, February 06, 1938.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-292.)

G-ADHJ. Imperial Airways - 'Mercury' in the standard livery at Southampton, circa 1938.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-818.)