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Short-Mayo Composite flying boats Mercury and Maia were built in an attempt by Imperial
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Short-Mayo Composite flying boats Mercury and Maia were built in an attempt by Imperial
Short-Mayo Composite flying boats Mercury and Maia were built in an attempt by Imperial airways to serve the transatlantic airmail route more efficiently.
The idea was to launch the heavily loaded mail plane Mercury from the back of the lightly loaded Maia after the combination had climb to cruising level.
The Maia was an adapted Short S.30 Empire flying boat. Flying trials began in early 1938 with the first separation on 6 February and the first long-distance flight was made from Foynes in Ireland on 20 July.
Captain Don Bennett (who became a famous W.W.2 Pathfinder pilot) then flew Mercury on to Montreal, a distance of 2930 miles in 20 hours 20 minutes. He later flew south to New York where Mercury was reunited with Maia.
WW2 put paid to any further development of this interesting conception.
February 1938
P004825
WATFORD
Mirrorpix
England
Media ID 21327146
© Mirrorpix
Aeroplane Flying Plane Seaplane
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EDITORS COMMENTS
The Short-Mayo Composite flying boats Mercury and Maia were a groundbreaking innovation by Imperial Airways in the 1930s. This print captures the essence of this unique aircraft duo, built with the aim of revolutionizing transatlantic airmail delivery. The concept behind these flying boats was simple yet ingenious. The heavily loaded mail plane, Mercury, would take off from the back of its companion, Maia, after reaching cruising altitude. By utilizing this method, Imperial Airways hoped to serve the transatlantic airmail route more efficiently than ever before. Flying trials commenced in early 1938 and proved successful when Captain Don Bennett piloted Mercury on its first long-distance flight from Foynes in Ireland to Montreal. Covering an impressive distance of 2930 miles in just over 20 hours, this achievement showcased the potential of this innovative design. Unfortunately, World War II halted any further development of this remarkable conception. However, it is undeniable that these composite flying boats left an indelible mark on aviation history. This print takes us back to February 1938 when dreams soared high and possibilities seemed endless for these pioneering aircraft. It serves as a reminder of human ingenuity and our relentless pursuit to conquer new frontiers in aviation technology.
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