Standing on the top deck of the open top bus loaned to the Wight Aviation Museum by the Isle of Wight Bus Museum, many of museum visitors marvelled at the sheer size of the gigantic “SaundersRoe ‘Princess’ Flying Boat” marked out in bright yellow paint on “the green” outside the museum hangar this weekend at Sandown Airport.
The weekend event, was the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the maiden flight of the Saunders-Roe Princess flying boat G-ALUN.
What as the Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princes?
The Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess was a British flying boat aircraft developed and built by SaundersRoe at their Cowes facility on the Isle of Wight.
It has the distinction of being the largest all-metal flying boat to have ever been constructed.
Of the three prototypes built, only one, G-ALUN, actually flew, making 47 “test flights” in 1952, including two appearances at the Farnborough Airshow.
Sadly shortly after these flights the project was abandoned and none of the three aircraft built survive today!
Blake: The WAM team worked really hard
Helen Blake, chair person of WAM enthused,
“The WAM team worked really hard to create an interesting and nostalgic display with the giant plan on the green, the ‘Princess’ display in the museum and more information, pictures and videos in the ‘Ops Room’ which resulted in an interesting weekend out for the hundred and more visitors.”
Stay up to date
Keep an eye on the WAM Website and the Sandown Airport Website for information about other events throughout the summer.
As usual the museum will be open to all visitors on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:00 to 15:00 each day.
For more information email “WAM Opening” to [email protected] or phone or text to 07949 704052 or visit our Website.
News shared by Brian on behalf of Wight Aviation Museum. Ed
