ZK-AMO 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 as ZK-AMO (CofR?) - ?

The aircraft was named 'Aranui' (main pathway)

First flown as ZK-AMO - ?

Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) Issued - ?

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

It arrived at Auckland on completion of the delivery flight - November 29, 1949

Operated the airline's Tasman and South Pacific services - 1949 - 1954

It was based at Laucala Bay, Suva, Fiji - 1954 - 1960

It was operated exclusively on the Suva - Apia Western Samoa) - Aitutaki (Cook Islands) - Papeete (Tahati) services

It was also operated exclusively on the Suva - Nuku'alofa (Tonga) service

Operated the final TEAL 'Coral Route Solent service (Captain J. Shephard) - September 14, 1960

Route: Papeete - Aitutaki - Apia - Suva - Auckland

This 4,600 mile (7,360 km) flight was the final TEAL flying boat revenue service

Withdrawn from use and donated to the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT), Auckland

Cancelled from the New Zealand Aircraft Register - ?

Placed in open storage at Upper Waitemata Harbour where it was badly vandalised over the years

Serious retoration work was commenced - early 1980s

This restoration work was carried out by the Solent Preservation Society, Inc under the auspices of MOTAT

Corrosion control and repairs, both interior and exterior commenced - 1982

The aircraft was moved to the MOTAT purpose built display hangar - 1989

Exterior of aircraft was then cleaned and fully repainted into the final TEAL livery

This aircraft is now fully restored and on display at MOTAT - 2012

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'R. M. A. Aranui' in the original livery at Mechanics Bay, Auckland Harbour, March 1950.

(Whites Aviation WA-24150-F Copyright Image 2545-843.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'R. M. A. Aranui' in the original livery at Mechanics Bay, Auckland Harbour, March 1950.

(Whites Aviation WA-24151-F Copyright Image 2545-842.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'R. M. A. Aranui' in the original livery at Auckland Harbour, March 1950.

(Whites Aviation WA-24152-F Copyright Image 2545-836.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'R. M. A. Aranui' in the original livery at Auckland Harbour, March 1950.

(Whites Aviation WA-24143-F Copyright Image 2545-837.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'R. M. A. Aranui' in the original livery at Auckland Harbour, March 24, 1950.

(Whites Aviation WA-24221-F Copyright Image 2545-838.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'R. M. A. Aranui' in the original livery at Auckland Harbour, May 1950.

(Whites Aviation WA-24567-F Copyright Image 2545-841.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'R. M. A. Aranui' in the original livery at Auckland Harbour, May 1950.

(Whites Aviation WA-24566-F Copyright Image 2545-840.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'R. M. A. Aranui' in the original livery at Auckland Harbour, May 1950.

(Whites Aviation WA-24564-F Copyright Image 2545-839.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'R. M. A. Aranui' in the original livery over the Tamaki Estuary, Auckland, May 04, 1950.

(Whites Aviation WA-24652-G Copyright Image 2545-844.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'R. M. A. Aranui' in the original livery over the Tamaki Basin, Auckland, May 04, 1950.

(Whites Aviation WA-24568-F Copyright Image 2545-845.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'R. M. A. Aranui' in the original livery over the Tamaki Basin, Auckland, May 04, 1950.

(Whites Aviation Copyright Image 2545-921.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'Aranui' in the final livery at Suva, circa 1958.

(P. Sheehan Collection Copyright Image 2545-835.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'Aranui' in the final livery at Hobsonville, December 08, 1960.

(Crown Copyright Royal New Zealand Air Force Copyright Image 2545-905.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'Aranui' in the final livery at Hobsonville, December 08, 1960.

(Crown Copyright Royal New Zealand Air Force Copyright Image 2545-906.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'Aranui' in the final livery at Hobsonville, December 08, 1960.

(Crown Copyright Royal New Zealand Air Force Copyright Image 2545-907.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'Aranui' in the final livery at the MOTAT Museum, Auckland, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-749.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'Aranui' in the final livery at the MOTAT Museum, Auckland, July 1979.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 2545-748.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'Aranui' in the final livery at the MOTAT Museum, Auckland, December 05, 2020.

(G. Sheehan Copyright Image 2545-959.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'Aranui' in the final livery at the MOTAT Museum, Auckland, December 05, 2020.

(G. Sheehan Copyright Image 2545-960.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'Aranui' in the final livery at the MOTAT Museum, Auckland, December 05, 2020.

(G. Sheehan Copyright Image 2545-961.)

ZK-AMO. TEAL Tasman Empire Airways Ltd - 'Aranui' in the final livery at the MOTAT Museum, Auckland, December 05, 2020.