Day 214/17. VP-LVE Southern Cross.

I know a lot about this aircraft. Originally built as a Mk 1 Sunderland delivered to the RAF on July 8th 1943.
Converted after WWII to become a Shorts Sandringham passenger aircraft, first for Tasman Empire Airlines, then Barrier Reef Airlines, both in Australia.
In 1953 she was sold to Ansett Flying Boat Services and undertook many flights between Australia and New Zealand.
In 1974 she was sold to Antilles Air Boats and spent the next 6 years flying tourists around the Caribbean,
She is now on display at Solent Sky Aircraft Museum in Southampton, UK, where I take great pleasure in introducing todays youth to a byegone age of flying through being a volunteer guide.
This model is around 10cm span and is one of my most prized possessions. The real aircraft has a span of some 35metres.