Short Solent

Short Brothers · United Kingdom · first flew 1946 · airliner

The Short Solent was the final and most refined of Britain's Empire flying boats, a four-engine airliner developed from the wartime Short Sunderland that served BOAC on its southern hemisphere routes until 1950.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	4 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	26.01 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Last of the great British Empire flying boats, developed from the wartime Sunderland
Double-deck passenger hull with BOAC on luxurious Empire routes
Preserved example at Solent Sky museum in Southampton

Large four-engine high-wing flying boat with a deep two-deck hull, prominent sponsons replacing external float struts, a tall fin with a dorsal strake, and four Bristol Hercules radial engines.

Specifications

The Short Solent has a length of 26.01 m (85 ft).
It has a wingspan of 34.36 m (113 ft).
Its maximum speed is 438 km/h (272 mph).
Typical crew: 6 + up to 39 passengers.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed from the Short Seaford, a military development of the Sunderland, the Solent first flew in 1946 and entered BOAC service later that year on routes to South Africa and Australia. The end of government subsidies and the development of land-plane airports made flying boats uneconomic, and BOAC retired the Solent in 1950.

Variants

The Solent was built in Solent 2 and Solent 3 variants differing in engine fit and interior arrangement; TEAL (Tasman Empire Airways) also operated Solents on trans-Tasman services.

Where you'll see it

Operated by BOAC on Empire routes until 1950 and by TEAL until 1960; a preserved Solent is displayed at Solent Sky museum in Southampton.

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