Short S25 Sunderland III Pan Am

General Product Description

Our PlaneArts Short S25 Sunderland III Pan Am model exhibits unique, unrivaled quality and detailed design to come as close as possible to the accuracy of the actual plane. It comes as standard with a robust, durable base or stand which is available in a variety of different finishes designed to match your own personal requirements including solid wood, wood with polished metal supports or adjustable wood wall mount and will be ready within about 9-10 weeks from placement of order.

The Short S25 Sunderland III Pan Am model is made of the finest kiln dried renewable mahogany wood (commonly known as Lauan or Meranti) which has undergone many stages of carving and meticulous and careful sanding giving the beautiful finished museum quality masterpiece. Many collectors and model connoisseurs demonstrate their preference for genuine handmade and hand painted mahogany wood models rather than plastic or die cast (diecast) alternatives due to the overall look and totally different feel of the item - we trust you will find the same. We can, however, if required produce the same model in Solid Cast Resin so just click and contact us us for further information. Our craftsmen and gifted artisans ensure that our finely handcrafted model airplanes match the precise blueprint details of the original aircraft. The paint scheme, markings and parts are closely matched, reflecting the original aircraft. This stylish top-quality desktop replica model will surely enthrall anyone who receives this as a gift and for sure one of the most appropriate and desirably collectable gifts for any aviation enthusiast and avid aircraft collector whilst also displaying a perfect resemblance to the actual aircraft.

If you require we can also make the Short S25 Sunderland III Pan Am model in any other airline, private livery or colour scheme you require and if necessary in a different size or scale. Just click here to contact us with a description or photographs of what you require, and we will let you have a quotation for the necessary customization by return email. We can also make bespoke scale replicas of any other private / civil commercial airliner or airliners, helicopter, glider, gliders with engines, military jet, warplane jets, propeller warplanes, biplane, triplane, tail fin, spacecraft, rocket or NASA model you require in any airline, military or civilian livery or colors. We also produce model airships, blimp, dirigible, blimps, boat and ship collectibles. Wall plaque or seal for military, government or private customers. Again, by clicking here to contact us just let us know exactly what you need.

The Short S.25 Sunderland III: Pan Am’s Flying Boat Pioneer

During the golden age of aviation, when vast oceans still challenged the limits of air travel, flying boats emerged as a symbol of progress and adventure. Among them, the Short S.25 Sunderland III, though primarily designed as a military patrol aircraft, occasionally found itself intertwined with civil aviation and the operations of pioneering airlines like Pan American Airways.

Origins of the Sunderland

The Short S.25 Sunderland was conceived in the 1930s by Short Brothers in the United Kingdom as a long-range maritime patrol flying boat for the Royal Air Force. Its first flight was in 1937, and it quickly became renowned for its versatility.

Powered by four Bristol Pegasus radial engines, the Sunderland had a robust hull that allowed it to land on open seas and a wingspan of nearly 113 feet (34 meters). Its large fuselage was designed to carry heavy loads—bombs, depth charges, or passengers—and to endure long missions over remote oceans.

The Sunderland III Variant

The Sunderland III was the most widely produced version, entering service in 1942. It incorporated improvements over earlier models, including:

• Revised hull shape for better seaworthiness

• Enhanced defensive armament

• Upgraded navigation and radio systems

• A strengthened airframe to handle heavy operational demands

It was an exceptional maritime workhorse, often credited with helping turn the tide in the Battle of the Atlantic by spotting and attacking German U-boats.

Pan American’s Use of Flying Boats

Although Pan American Airways (Pan Am) never operated large fleets of the Sunderland III in regular scheduled service, the aircraft and Pan Am shared the same era and spirit of overwater aviation. Pan Am’s Clipper services relied on flying boats—most famously the Boeing 314 Clipper—to pioneer transoceanic passenger routes in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

In special circumstances, surplus military Sunderlands—including the Sunderland III—were converted after WWII into civilian transports. Many of these aircraft were adapted to carry cargo and passengers to remote islands lacking conventional runways. In such roles, they were occasionally leased or chartered by airlines or air freight companies working alongside Pan Am in the Pacific and Atlantic theaters, particularly during postwar reconstruction.

Civil Conversions and Influence

Civilian-converted Sunderlands were often called Short Sandringhams, fitted out with passenger cabins, galleys, and improved interiors. These conversions represented a bridge between wartime aviation technology and the new postwar era of long-range commercial air service.

While Pan Am primarily operated Boeing and Sikorsky flying boats, the Sunderland’s presence among other carriers indirectly supported the same infrastructure—like island bases and maritime support facilities—that Pan Am helped pioneer.

Legacy

Today, the Sunderland III is remembered as a robust and iconic flying boat, emblematic of an era when vast oceans were crossed by seaplanes that combined adventure, innovation, and resilience. Though it wasn’t a Pan Am flagship, the Sunderland’s wartime and civilian roles intersected with Pan Am’s network in ways that contributed to the rise of global air travel.

Restored examples of Sunderlands and Sandringhams can still be seen in museums and occasionally in flying condition, offering a glimpse of the grandeur of early transoceanic aviation.