DESTROYED BY FIRE
GIANT FLYING-BOAT SEVERE LOSS TO BRITAIN v LONDON, Jan. 28. A Shetland flying boat, the only one of her type so far built, caught fire and sank at her moorings at Felixtow. The crew were not harmed. The Shetland was reputed to be the biggest flying-boat ever built in Britain. It weighed about 58 tons and was, powered by four Bristol Centauras engines, giving the machine a cruising speed of 275 miles an hour. The flying-boat was fully laden. The machine was originally intended for the R.A.F. Coastal Command. It had a wing span of 150 ft and two decks. It had flown about 100 hours. The flying-boat had accommodation for 70 passengers and a crew of 11. Its cruising speed was 185 miles an hour, with a maximum of 270. It had 5000’gallons of petrol in .the tanks when it caught fire. The Air Ministry has ordered an inquiry. An explosion preceded the fire. The plane sank 25 yards from the shore after two members of the crew had tried to beat out the flames. Both had to swim ashore. They suffered burns and shock.
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21933, 30 January 1946, Page 6
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189DESTROYED BY FIRE Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21933, 30 January 1946, Page 6
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