Saunders-Roe Princess flying boat - photos

[Altair]

Saunders-Roe Princess flying boat.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...1_fullsize.jpg







Previously:

1937 piggyback seaplane/flying boat Short Mayo Composite - photo and video
Seaplane transport truck - video

[IntheGroove]

The weirdest part about those flying boats is the water coming over the windows on takeoff and landing(watering?)...

"We're coming in for a watering."

[jdurand]

In the bottom photo you can see the elastic band that runs it.

[greyhoundollie]

I was thinking that is the pull starter for #4 engine if the pilot forgets to bring the starter key chain. If you are seated at table #10 in the restaurant section, you get an extra complimentary drink and 2 bags of pretzels to compensate you when the "engineer" has to crawl across your table to open the hatch and yank the starter handle to get the flight ready for takeoff!

[Frank S]

This isn't a plane! it is a canoe with wings. Then get out and paddle just get us out of here

[MIGuy]

What a beast!

[McDesign]

So much cooler than anything we have today.
Without the War, I wonder what this and large dirigibles would have evolved into before the inevitable rise of jets.

Forrest in Atlanta

[Paul Alciatore]

Boy that is quite an aircraft. It is built more like an ocean liner than a commercial aircraft of today. I bet the tickets cost an arm and a leg - and three quarters or what's between.

Purser's office, restaurant, cocktail lounge, and a promenade no less. Today that would be another 100 seats. I think we lost something along the way.

[Frank S]

Boy that is quite an aircraft. It is built more like an ocean liner than a commercial aircraft of today. I bet the tickets cost an arm and a leg - and three quarters or what's between.

Purser's office, restaurant, cocktail lounge, and a promenade no less. Today that would be another 100 seats. I think we lost something along the way.

What we lost was stewardesses for inflight service staff

[IntheGroove]

The craziest thing about the thing is the 10 engines. Two each for the inboard and center counter rotating props and one each on the outboard single engine and prop...