Identity Change

S.884	S.886

Launched March 02, 1939 as ZK-AMA ‘AO-TEA-ROA’	Launched May 05, 1939 as ZK-AMC ‘AWARUA’
No airline titles had been painted on the fuselage at the time of launching.	No airline titles had been painted on the fuselage at the time of launching. Despite many reports to the contrary this aircraft NEVER had the registration G-AFDA painted on the fuselage. However, by May 09, 1939, the titles ‘Tasman Empire Airways Limited, Wellington’ had been added to the fuselage.
S.884 remained moored on the Medway River, Rochester, until April 18, 1939, awaiting engine parts.	S.886 was ready for first flight at the time of launching.
By April 18, 1939 the registration painted on the aircraft had been changed to G-AFCY and Imperial Airways titles painted low down on the forward fuselage. This was completed in preparation for the aircraft to begin trials on the UK - Karachi Route.
First flown at Rochester on Apil 18, 1939 as G-AFCY AO-TEA-ROA under the command of Captain John Lankester Parker.	First flown at Rochester on May 09, 1939 as ZK-AMC AWARUA under the command of Captain John Lankester Parker.
Certificate of airworthiness issued April 21, 1939.	Certificate of airworthiness issued May 12, 1939.
S.884 departed Rochester on April 24, 1939 at 15:05 hours on the delivery flight to Imperial Airways at Hythe, arriving at 15:45 hours.	S.886 departed Rochester on May 25, 1939 on the delivery flight to Imperial Airways at Hythe (no times recorded)

TEAL advised Imperial Airways that arrangements had been made for a demonstration flight to be flown for invited media guests, from Hythe to Brighton and return on May 31, 1939. Imperial Airways advised TEAL that only S.886 would be available for that day as S.884 was still being prepared for entry into service. TEAL then advised Imperial Airways that for photographic purposes the aircraft to be used on the May 31 flight had to be named 'AOTEAROA' (un-hyphenated) as this was to be the name of the first Empire boat to be delivered to New Zealand. The simple solution was to swap the names on the two aircraft. Arrangements were put in place to alter the name on S.886 from ‘AWARUA’ to ‘AO-TEA-ROA’ and the name on S.884 to be altered from ‘AO-TEA-ROA’ to ‘AWARUA’. These changes signified the beginning of the changes in identity of the two aircraft.

S.884 now registered as G-AFCY ‘AWARUA’ continued preparation for entry into service at Hythe.	S.886 still showing registration ZK-AMC but correctly named ‘AOTEAROA’ was used for the media flight on May 31, 1939.
	When photos from the media flight reached TEAL in New Zealand, Imperial Airways was again reminded that the first aircraft to be delivered to New Zealand had to be ZK-AMA.
S.884 as G-AFCY ‘AWARUA’ entered trials on the Imperial Airways route from Hythe to Karachi operating Service Number CE146 (CE stood for Calcutta Eastbound) July 13, 1939. By the end of August 1939, S.884 had operated 4 return flights to Karachi.	There are no verifiable records of S.886 ever having flown in the UK following the media flight. There is however photographic evidence of this aircraft in outside storage at Hythe, without engines or propellers and still bearing the registration ZK-AMC. However, Captain Burgess had advised the media on the special flight on May 31, 1939 that he would be testing the aircraft for approximately 10 hours flying time (1,700 miles flying distance) before setting off to New Zealand. No records can be found of this test flying which in all probability was carried out. This aircraft was never flown on Imperial Airways scheduled services.

Imperial Airways advised TEAL following the loss of G-AFCW ‘CONNEMARA’ by fire on June 19, 1939, that the Empire Mail scheme would be put at risk by releasing the N.Z. aircraft for delivery. TEAL agreed to allow Imperial Airways a little more time as Tasman Empire Airways had not yet been formally registered as a company. The situation again changed when on August 09, 1939, G-AFCZ 'AUSTRALIA' - which was to have become ZK-AMB ‘AUSTRALIA’ with TEAL, was severely damaged on a takeoff accident at Basra. Imperial then agreed to make ready S.886 (now ZK-AMA ‘AOTEAROA’) for delivery but advised TEAL that the delivery of ZK-AMC (S.884) would be further delayed, possibly until the end of 1939. In the event, it was March 1940 before the delivery flight of S.884 to TEAL took place. Also, when S.885 ‘AUSTRALIA’ was finally repaired, its name was changed to ‘CLARE’ and it re-entered service as G-AFCZ with B.O.A.C. In fact, this aircraft was delivered ONLY to Imperial Airways (BOAC from April 01, 1940) and was never delivered to TEAL, and never operated to the east of Karachi and was never registered as 'ZK-AMB'.

G-AFCY ‘AWARUA’ S.884 continued on Imperial Airways scheduled Empire Route services and special route surveys to Gibraltar, Bizerta in Tunisia, Malta and Greece.	ZK-AMA remained at Hythe until prepared and ready to depart on its delivery flight to New Zealand. The date the registration on this aircraft was changed to ZK-AMA is unknown.
G-AFCY had its registration changed to ZK-AMC before departure to New Zealand on its delivery flight. It departed the UK on March 15, 1940.	S.886 ZK-AMA ‘AOTEAROA’ departed on its delivery flight to New Zealand on August 16, 1939.