"British Overseas Airways Corporation and Qantas, 1940-1945." Short S.23 'C' Class Empire Flying Boat, G-ADHL "Canopus" of BOAC, landing on Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria, for moorings at the Iquoi flying boat base. "Canopus" was the first of the Empire Flying Boats, making its maiden flight on 4 July 1936 and entering service with Imperial Airways later that year.