In 1948 I was as an 11 year old attending an Air League of the British Empire camp at the Hamble flying school when a trip was arranged to visit Saunders Roe at Cowes where the Princess flying boats were being built. I have photos of the occasion and also also of a prototype SRA/1 jet seaplane which took off whilst we were there and crashed into the sea when landing.A memorable day.
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Miles Watson, e-mail, 16.02.2020 23:44
Amazing Plane. Such a Beauty!
Howard, e-mail, 14.06.2017 03:12
I left England in Mar 1952 and sailed out from Southampton as a small boy. Sorry I missed this last British Flying Boat, but have been associated with a group that held a 60 yr. first flight anniversary at the East Cowes former Saunders Roe hanger..a great time, and a long trip over from the U.S. meeting some really wonderful former Saunders Roe employees.
David Irvine, e-mail, 27.12.2016 01:49
As a boy I lived near Bordon in Hampshire and used to listen to Raymond Baxter's radio commentaries about the Farnborough airshow and in 1953 heard him say the Princess flying boat would be coming in from Cowes. As I continued to listen I suddenly heard an aircraft approaching and rushed out to see it fly overhead. I continued to listen to Raymond and he covered the Princess's display and then said it was returning back to it's base. After a short while I heard it again and went out again to see it fly over. I feel that as a result of that incident (and personal visits to the show in subsequent years), I was convinced to get involved in aviation and thus 6 years later I commenced my apprenticeship at de Havilland, where I ultimately worked on the Comet airliner, etc.
Barbara Chapman, e-mail, 12.11.2016 18:49
My Father, grandfather, Uncle and cousin all worked for Saunders Roe. At the age of 4 I can remember standing on the slipway at West Cowes, with my hands on the fencing, watching the flying boat being cacooned. This was one of my last memories whilt we still ived at East Cowes, as Dad had been head hunted and we moved to Surrey as he went to work for Vicars at Weybridge later working on Concorde.
EricDyer, e-mail, 15.05.2016 17:28
I remember seeing the princess and the brabason side by side flying over freshwater after being at the farnbough air show in 1953the brabason flew with the princess and flew over cowes for the worker to see then the princess flew with the brabason To Fulton so that the Bristol worker could see them both then retuned too cowes
peter matthews, e-mail, 18.06.2015 16:47
In the late 1944 s I was a deck hand on paddle steamer lord Elgin run by the isle of white Co .we had the job of transporting parts and materials for the princesses .the thing I remember was the size of the propellers in their crates .I well remember them at calshot we once tied up at their pier.
Axel., e-mail, 13.05.2015 01:08
Hi folks. I seem to be younger than most here so my only eye-contact with one of these came at the very end of their life and early in mine. I read the last went for scrapping in 1967. I saw one awaiting the axe I presume on Calshot spit from a Thorensen ferry going down the Solent en-route to Le Havre. So I guess that must have been my first trip on that route, in 1968, when I was not yet 8 myself.
Well I have always assumed thats what it was. Perhaps someone in the know can enlighten me. Its been pointed out here that they were cocooned in black rubber but as I remember this the aircraft I saw was grey. Had the covering been removed for inspection during the putative overseas sales bid? I cant think of any other aircraft with that appearance and size. As I remember it, a forlorn whale aground, parked haphazardly and incongruously on the bleak slipway.
This is one of those cherished glimpses of things that connect me back to a time before I was born in a way nothing in a museum ever can.
Tim Neville, e-mail, 04.01.2015 00:30
I was a 10-year old boy on holiday on the IoW and on a round-the-island trip on a paddle steamer when, as we were passing Cowes, it was announced that the Princess was taxiing out. Most of the passengers rushed to the appropriate side of the deck and we had a good view of her taking off on her maiden flight. I wonder how many there are today who actually saw that take-off. I saw her several more times during that holiday, escorted by a DH Vampire, I think it was.
Peter Page, e-mail, 26.07.2014 08:29
Memories! I now live in Australia and worked on the Princess at Saro but left in 1950 so did not see it fly (shame)but remember being a 'dolly boy' rivetting the hull and still have my hearing!!!
Simon Chaddock, e-mail, 14.06.2013 01:52
There is a You Tube video of the Farnborough fly past. Search "Saro Princess flyby" Apparently all those on the Saunders Roe stand had their fingers crossed that all ten engines would keep going as many of her 100 flights ended with an engine failure!
Leonard Brett, e-mail, 10.01.2013 10:43
It was nice to see Eric Jollife's comments on the radio station I had equiped, the wire recorder was by Armour of America and was one of only two in this country on loan from America the other one was at Farnborough, and I had to go to the Air Ministry in London to get this one which was on short term loan for me to record the pilot during the test flight.So I can say that we had the first speech recorder on the Island.
ERIC G. JOLLIFFE, e-mail, 08.01.2013 22:42
With ref. to comments by Leonard Brett, he refers to the ground radio station ( Guildar Control) for the SRA/1 and Princess -I was his apprentice at the time 1947. My first radio station using vhf tranceivers TR 1143 and a wire recorder.
Anthony, e-mail, 28.11.2012 23:58
When an engineering student at Hamble many years ago, I took my 6ft. span flyingboat with a trainee pilot fiend in a small boat for it's maiden flight. We went down the Hamble river and well out into the Solent, started then stopped the tiny Elfin engine to make adjustments, when we happened to look towards Cowes. There must have been a north wind that day, for coming towards us at full song was the Princess for it's maiden flight, it passed low over our heads. What a sight, never to be forgotten. I wander to this day if we were observed by anyone on board, and what inspection of the takeoff run is carried out on such an occassion.
John Collier, e-mail, 25.08.2012 00:25
I went on the same trip as Jack Mercer as I was at the same school, Little Appley at Ryde.
Brian Paddock, e-mail, 16.08.2012 12:04
I went to York st. in Cowes school at the time the princess was built and often watched her take off and land.The first memory of hearing the roar of her engines was when we were out in the playground and on hearing the roar of her engines a lot of kids threw themselves to the ground,perhaps memories of the war. she was a beautiful sight and was a shame the program was scrapped
Paul Wyatt, e-mail, 22.07.2012 09:33
My father worked at the RAE at this time and told me that the operational model that flew experienced severe engine problems with salt water getting into the engines during take off and landing. I saw the flight over Farnborough and thought it the most beautiful airplane ever at that time.
Jack Mercer, e-mail, 06.03.2012 23:22
I was at Little Appley School near Ryde and we were taken to The SR factory to see the flying boat being produced. To a small boy it was an incredible size. Wec were told by the headmaster, Mr. Mitcheson, not to take any "bits" away with us. Apart fom being away from school it was a wonderful day to see this magneficent plane being made.
Leonard Brett, e-mail, 15.02.2012 10:41
I am sorry to spoil John Stroud's memories, but the man driving an old green Bently with straps over the bonnet was in fact The Flight Engineer of the Princess Dick Stratton. Geofrey Tyson drove an Armstrong Siddely Sapphire and believe me he would NEVER have given any one a lift.I knew him well as I worked on the Princess and operated the radio ground station and was in contact with him when he was flying the Princess also the SRA1 Squirt.
JetRanger, e-mail, 22.10.2011 14:57
I've a Saunders Princess Propliner in my Hanger right now, I fly it often too,, flys great, problem is - its in my microsoft flight simulator FSX Edition, and I can't actually fit inside the thing - its too small and i'm too big - the joys of flight simulator tho !!
John Stroud, e-mail, 03.10.2011 19:20
At the time I attended the East Cowes County Technical school, the Princess was flying over our school. A mate and I had to walk from Haylands and catch the school bus just outside Ryde. Often the SARO test pi;ot, Geoffrey Tyson would pull up in his green 3.5 litre 1930's Bentley.leather strap on the bonnet and all, and give us a lift to school. If he tried that today he'd probabaly get done for child molestation!!
I have to asmit that in the school lunch hour, I occasionally used to go down to the slipway and throw stones at the Princess as she stood there-I did grow up OK though! To and I will always be proud and honoured that I saw the real thing in actionme, she was one of the most graceful and elegant aircraft ever in flight
Peter Mills, e-mail, 12.01.2011 22:08
I recall being at the farnborough Air Show in 1952 or '53 - cannot remember which. I saw the Princess do a fly-by - what a wonderful sight and sound to experience. A real pity to have lost such a beauty.
John Gardner, e-mail, 09.12.2010 23:11
Like some other contributors I was a young boy on holiday on the Isle of Wight in the '60s and remember this massive flying boat on a slip-way,still a memorale sight after all these years.
Kim Wilkinson, e-mail, 22.10.2010 19:40
My Father worked at saunders Roe, until he past away in 1958. I later worked there (BHC) I often wonder if he worked on the Princess.
Kim
John Proctor, e-mail, 22.09.2010 04:58
Reading these comments has solved a lifelong mystery for me. In 1957, at the age of 6 and on the eve of our family's immigration to New Zealand, my recently retired RAF Dad, took me to see what seemed, to a 6 year old, the largest aeroplane imaginable. I've often wondered where that was and why it was painted black. Now I'm happy to learn it was in Calshot and the reason for the unusual colour, was it's rubber preservative coating. I never would have known.... A 52 year old puzzle solved. Thank you all!
John Proctor, e-mail, 22.09.2010 04:56
Reading these comments has solved a lifelong mystery for me. In 1957, at the age of 6 and on the eve of our family's immigration to New Zealand, my recently retired RAF Dad, took me to see what seemed, to a 6 year old, the largest aeroplane imaginable. I've often wondered where that was and why it was painted black. Now I'm happy to learn it was in Calshot and the reason for the unusual colour, was it's rubber preservative coating. I never would have known.... A 52 year old puzzle solved. Thank you all!
stanley sandler, e-mail, 29.08.2010 00:13
One of the main problems with flying boats was submerged logs, etc. A log that would just cause a bump on a ship's hull could (and sometimes did) sink a flying boat whose thin-skin hull was constructed for flying.
Also, rough water could through off flying boat's schedules, as passengers waited and fumed. When the US Boeing flying boats inauguratged the first scheduled commercial trans-Atlantic flights in 1939, often they were thrown off by rough water/weather on the Tagus River (Porugal).Often for so long that passengers would say "to hell with this!", book on, say,_Queen Mary_, and beat the Boeings across the pond. Thank you.
Stanley Sandler, Ph.D.
Arthur Self, e-mail, 28.07.2010 11:44
I was raised on the IOW and I remember vividly as a child hearing and watching one of these from Yarmouth beach. I could hear and see it from several miles away as it made its way out of Cowes.
rb1957, 14.06.2010 17:51
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEcLE89XBis
Barry, 22.09.2009 13:12
I'm with you Leo. In the golden days of the flying boat there was a certain romance about travel this way. Unfortunately, or fortunately,the masses now have access to air travel can you imagine them all scrambling on to a boat to embark or disembark from such a craft, especially in strong north easterly. You know in a sort of sadistic way I would like to see what Ryanair would make of a flying boat operation!
leo rudnicki, e-mail, 04.04.2009 15:58
At the end of the movie "Maltese Falcon",bogart said "It's the stuff that dreams are made of". Remember Newton's second law of thermodynamics. In my dreams, I never do maintenance and repair.
Ed. Wardian, e-mail, 09.01.2009 18:21
I think that the Princess, ranks along with the Brabazon, and VC7, as one of the great civilian "lost-opportunities" in British aviation history. I was recently talking to a guy who felt that had he the money, he would have used 2 of the aircraft as charter 'planes, and used them to fly those on package holidays to the Med, keeping one as a spares 'plane, as package holidays had taken off around the time they were scrapped. Would have been a nice idea, just turning up to the hotel on the beach, and checking in.
Alan Baker, e-mail, 07.01.2009 22:17
My mum used to work at Saunders Roe in the planning office at the time of the construction of the Princess and took the phone call to say that the princess was airborne even though it was not due to fly by the pilot Mr Tyson who she knew, she shouted out that it was airborne across the office and remembbers everyone running to the windows.She is still with us at the grand age of 84
Stewart Davies, e-mail, 30.09.2008 20:27
Does any one know of 3 view drawings both cut away and or deck plans available on line? I find the plane to be most interesting and wounder how it would have done, had it been completed just after the war, before jets became a viable alternitive?
Given the comments of "t. jones, terencetjon(@)aol.com, 16.07.2008" and the grounds upon which Mr. Jones correctly suggests aircraft like the SR.45 should again be considered and with which others also concur, it is indeed time to do so. Simply, within the concept of the Advanced Hydraulic Engines (AHE) there is now the opportunity to build diesel aviation engines well in excess of the 3,780hp Bristol Proteus' power levels, with overall power weight ratios at least comparable to turbo-prop systems and when fuel load is considered, substantially better. Given these "AHE diesels" would provide better than three times the fuel efficiency of contemporary aviation diesel engines, the reduced fuel load and lack of a need to carry the weight of the undercarriage would result in highly fuel efficient airframes; however, the simple limiting factor remains the commercial practicality, would the flying passenger be willing to travel the great distances of modern aviation 200mph slower than they would do so in a jet, such as a Boeing 747-400? Perhaps many would, for a cheaper fare and the considerably reduced emissions impact of the type. Combined with a high speed rail link from nearby suitable water bodies to target cities, makes for an interesting tranpsortation system. Air-frieght operations could certainly benefit from the return of the large flying boats, with the accompanying reduced fuel costs and very much lower landing/ground fees, the costs of this aspect of aviation would be substantially reduced. I'm also aware from earlier deiscussions with Indonesian interests, that in many less developed countries, supplies of jet-fuel are limited to a few localities, whereas diesel fuel is readily available almost anywhere. Sincerely, Nigel Eric Rose
t. jones, e-mail, 16.07.2008 19:19
now that we have a mindset towards ever wider bodied transport aircraft and no longer have a surplus of land and more opposition to runways and flights all the reasons for abandoning the princess have evaporated. A reappraisal and redevelopment of this concept is long 0ver overdue.
Lars-Göran Willny, e-mail, 19.05.2008 23:13
There is a film on Youtube showing the maiden flight of the "Princess": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV1eUeo27tc
mr ;mrs eyles, e-mail, 06.04.2008 20:39
can anyone tell me,what year the two planes was broken up in the isle of wight
ashley, e-mail, 11.03.2008 19:24
I recall seeing the one near Southampton, and then the one in Cowes, when I went on a school trip to the Isle of W in June 1961. I was told They had been coccooned in a layer of rubber to preserve them. I understand they were broken up not long afterwards
Luis M. Moreno, e-mail, 05.01.2008 14:55
A fabulous and advanced flying boat lost without profit.
Alan Bradshaw, e-mail, 27.12.2007 07:34
As a boy of 14 in 1951 I was a member of the Ringwood 2033 ATC squadron, We went on a trip to Cowes with the ATC and were transported to the IOW by RAF air sea rescue launches, we were given a tour of the Princess flying boat under construction, it was a very memorable trip for me, and a wonderful experience for a 14 year old boy and I remember them being stored there all cocooned in storage until they were broken up. I remember the 4 inboard nacelles having 2 engines driving contra-rotating props and the outboard nacelles had one engine with a fully feathering reversible pitch prop which allowed the aircraft to be spun round on its axis on the water. I also saw this aircraft in flight, it had the most wonderful sound all of its own with the 10 engines.
Charlie, e-mail, 03.08.2007 05:07
The SR-45 Princess was, no doubt, a fabulous airplane.
I wonder where one can get more large pictures and draw-ings of it and of other flying boats like, for example, the fanjet powered Berievs, in a free downloadable format.
Thanks in advance for any co-operation.
Charlie
P/S: please indicate me a valid e-mail address for future contact. I'm working in a personal aeronautical divulgat-ion project.
Laurie Pocock, e-mail, 17.06.2007 00:49
I remember taking the Red Funnel ferry from Southampton several times , and always looked forward to seeing the two flying boats on the ramp at Calshot. The third was pulled up on the slipway at Cowes. Several years later on a train from Southampton to Portsmouth, going along the section which runs by the River Itchen I saw the Princess for the last time, it was minus wings and looking very sad in a slipwar associated with one of the breakers yards that used to work along that part of the river.
Bill Tucker, e-mail, 14.05.2007 15:09
A guy I work with used to see the two coccooned aircraft on the ramp at Calshot. does anyone have film footage of the first Princess in flight?
