Motat's senior aviation volunteer Norm McKelvey has overseen the restoration of more than 20 aircraft.It's the last of its kind and sits in an Auckland aviation workshop waiting to be fixed.
The world's only remaining Solent Mark IV Flying Boat is housed at the Museum of Technology and Transport (Motat).
But the vessel has fallen into disrepair and will require major work to preserve it.
The flying boat was first restored in the 1980s by retired members of its original flight crew as well as enthusiasts from the Solent Preservation Society.
Motat's senior aviation volunteer Norm McKelvey says the museum's aviation display hall was built to house the vessel.
The Solent was moved outside when the workshop was extended years later.
"Unfortunately a delay occurred and instead of being outside for a few years it was out for five years," he says.
"It has fallen into disrepair as it had been outside in the weather for so long."
The first phase of the aircraft's restoration was funded by Air New Zealand and focused on the interior of the aircraft.
But the restoration of the plane's exterior has been put on hold until the museum can fund it.
"As it is with any plane, it costs money to restore them and you need quite a lot of money to accomplish what needs to be done," McKelvey says.
The museum aims to return the Solent to the way it looked during the 1950s.
Motat's commercial manager Jeff Morris says the Solent was constructed in 1949.
"This majestic flying boat once graced the Pacific skies ferrying passengers along the Coral Route," Morris says.
"The route was labelled the most romantic in the world by those who flew it."
Built in Belfast, the Solent would transport passengers from Auckland across to Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti and the Cook Islands.
Mckelvey, a retired aircraft engineer, says the aircraft played an important role in the growth of Air New Zealand as it allowed the airline to branch out and cover more of the Pacific.
Gala dinner
Motat is hosting a gala dinner and charity auction to raise funds for the restoration of the Solent.
California-based journalist and culinary historian Richard Foss will be the guest speaker at the "Dining in the Skies" event.
His talk will cover the history of inflight foods and will look at how meals were prepared on Zeppelins, flying boats and other airliners.
"Over the years, the vessels that carry humans in the air have presented the most challenging cooking environment to ever exist," Foss says.
"But cooks and engineers rose to the challenge and some strange things were tried."
The formal event will take place at Motat's Aviation Display Hall on December 3 from 6pm.
Visit motat.org.nz/gala for more information or givealittle.co.nz/cause/motatsolent to donate to the restoration project.
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz
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