Short Sandringham "Beachcomber" at Lord Howe Island

Short Sandringham "Beachcomber": from a slide taken in early June 1974, shortly after arrival from Sydney. The image in the note shows the aircraft in relation to the two large mountains at the south of the island, Mt Gower and Mt Lidgbird, as we headed toward the shore in the motor launch.

Our flight out to the island was smooth and itself an unforgettable experience. There is no comparison between the modern airline ‘cattle class’ and the 1930s style timber-panelled ambiance, large windows, and generally spacious and relaxed style of the old flying boats. Unlike the pre-packaged fare dished out now, our breakfast was cooked fresh on the aircraft by the Purser!

The 'downside' of flying boats was that the airline timetable depended on the tides! The state of the seas also meant that flights often could not be operated in rough weather.