Thank you both – RN297 was officialy registered as with the Marine Aircraft Esperimental Establishment at that time – which is, of course, where a trials aircraft would be. It was transferred to 88 Squadron in 1951 and sold, as you say, in 1953 for conversion and used by Aquila Airways.

Sorry but I should have said, my puzzle is Sunderland EJ152 which was registered as going to “Sauders Roe East Cowes” on 3-10-45 and later (1948) to MoS.

My suspicion of a trials aircraft is only a thought – and probably a poor one. After all the Saro Shrimp (a gorgeous little plane) was the main test bed for the Shetland. It survived until 1949.

I just can’t imagine something the size of a Sunderland being a company hack. The other puzzle is that it seems EJ152 was still a MkIII. By that time most surviving Sunderlands had been converted to MkV. But then, some movement cards do have mistakes.

The A33 is an interesting, but ultimately flawed, aircraft. Peter London certainly tells the fullest story.

Allan