Sea-Plane Launching Apparatus

A new aluminium design for military flying boats.

The Short S.8/8 Rangoon flying boat is demonstrated to the press against a backdrop of choppy seas. Effectively a straightforward military adaption of the Calcutta civilian flying boat; a brand new RAF Rangoon can be seen waiting in readiness for take off. The newsreel men are out in force to capture the occasion as a ferryboat conveys the crew to the awaiting flying boat. Unfortunately the action shot, and the dramatic take-off, seem to be missing from this film record which gives the impression of newsreel out-takes. Presumably the key scenes were edited into the finished newsreel story? The crew are posed in front of the camera bemused at their moment in the spotlight.