Short S . 26 The Short S . 26 G - class was a large transport flying - boat with non - stop transatlantic capability . Three aircraft were built for Imperial Airways , subsidised by the Air Ministry in anticipation of military use . All three were impressed into military service . Design and development . The S . 26 was designed as an enlarged Short C - Class Empire flying boat , also incorporating features from the Short Sunderland . Greater use of extrusions in the structure , rather than bent sheet sections , compared to the C - Class aircraft , helped to keep the weight down . It was powered by four 1 , 400 hp ( 1 , 044 kW ) Bristol Hercules sleeve valve radial engines , and it was designed with the capability of crossing the Atlantic without refuelling , and was intended to form the backbone of Imperial Airways ' Empire services . The plan was for the first aircraft to make long range runs , the second would operate medium length ( 2 , 000 miles ) flights with a dozen passengers , and the third would make short range ( 1 , 000 miles ) trips with 24 passengers . It could fly 6 , 000 miles unburdened , or 150 passengers for a " short hop " . The S . 26 / M version had defensive armament of 12 0 . 303 inch machine guns in two dorsal , and one tail , Boulton Paul BPA Mk II four - gun turrets . Offensive armament was eight 500 lb ( 227 kg ) bombs under the wings . There was internal stowage for 20 reconnaissance flares , 28 flame floats and 8 smoke floats . Air to surface vessel ( ASV ) radar was fitted , plus armour plating for the internal fuel tanks and the crew stations . Operational history . On 21 July 1939 , the first aircraft , ( G - AFCI " Golden Hind " ) , was first flown at Rochester by Shorts ' chief test pilot , John Lankester Parker . On 24 February 1940 , the second ( G - AFCJ " Golden Fleece " ) flew , and the third ( G - AFCK " Golden Horn " ) flew on 8 July 1940 . Although two aircraft were handed over to Imperial Airways for crew training , in 1940 all three were impressed ( along with their crews ) into the RAF , before they could start civilian operation . They were modified by Shorts to S . 26 / M military configuration before delivery to the RAF as " X8275 " , " X8274 " and " X8273 " respectively . After modification at Rochester , Airborne Surveillance Radar was fitted by Blackburn Aircraft Limited at Dumbarton in Scotland . From 1941 , the S . 26 / Ms ( ' G - Boats ' ) served with No . 119 Squadron RAF and No . 10 Squadron RAAF , flying stores to Gibraltar and the Middle East . On 20 June 1941 , X8274 ( " Golden Fleece " ) was lost off Cape Finisterre , when it broke up following a heavy forced - landing , due to the simultaneous failure of two engines . In December 1941 , " Golden Horn " and " Golden Hind " were returned to BOAC ( created in November 1939 by the merger of Imperial Airways and British Airways Ltd . ) , and fitted out for 40 passengers in ' austerity ' seating , then operated between the UK and Nigeria . On 9 January 1943 , " Golden Horn " was lost at Lisbon , when an engine seized and caught fire on a test flight , following an engine overhaul . " Golden Hind " was employed on other routes in UK and West Africa until the end of the war , and remained in service with BOAC until retired in 1947 . From 1947 until 1954 it lay moored in Rochester Harbour near its birthplace , where it had made its first flight . In 1954 , it ran aground at Harty Ferry on the Isle of Sheppey whilst on tow to a new anchorage . It was eventually scrapped due to hull damage .