Short S.16 Scion II Floatplane G-AEZF

As displayed at Rochester Cathedral during August 2025

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on the Short Scion

History

The Short Scion aeroplane was a small twin-engine, 4- to 6-seat passenger transport designed by Short Brothers in 1933. 22 were built (1 prototype, 4 Mk I and 17 Mk II) and these saw service in the UK, Australia and Palestine. The prototype flew on the scheduled service between Rochester to Southend for its first year. One of each of the Mk I and Mk II were floatplanes, while the remainder were landplanes.

G-AEZF was the last of the six Scions completed under licence by Pobjoy's at Rochester in 1937 and was a floatplane, in which form it did three test flights. It was purchased by Elders Colonial Airways for service in Sierra Leone. However, records show that it was never shipped, the contract probably being swapped for the larger Short Scion Senior, and it languished in the hangar at Airport Works, Rochester until it was damaged by German bombing in 1940. It was repaired, converted to a landplane and impressed into the war effort as a liaison aircraft, suffering further damage and repair. After the war, it returned to civilian use and flew occasionally until about 1958, including a spell as a camera aircraft for ground mapping. The total flying time appears to have only been about 250 hours.

After decommissioning, the aircraft was initially stored at Redhill before being dumped behind a hangar at Southend and left to rot. In the mid 1990's, a local preservation team attempted to do some work to restore it, but space and money ran out and it was later moved back to Redhill.

Painting of Scion II G-AEZF by Ray Macey

G-AEZF in about 1947

Derelict at Southend in 1995

Painting of Scion II G-AEZF by Ray Macey

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Restoration

The remnants, comprising the fuselage frame, cockpit subframe, most of the port wing and half of the spar box of the starboard wing were purchased by MAPSL and brought to Rochester Airport on June 13, 2013. The restoration to museum standard has been continuing ever since, thanks in part to a substantial grant from The Rochester Bridge Trust, maintaining the connection between Rochester, the River Medway and Short Brothers. It is intended that the completed aeroplane will eventually be sited locally as to maintain the connection between Short Brothers and North Kent. It was displayed in Rochester Cathedral during August 2025 as the centrepiece of the "Floatplane Festival", organised by the Rochester Bridge Trust and the Cathedral, attracting almost 60000 visitors and resulting in MAPSL being presented with the Robert Pleming Award for Innovation 2025 by Aviation Heritage UK.

Fuselage: The restoration of the fuselage is almost complete.

From only a basic steel frame with duralumin cross members, the following elements have been restored or replicated, using similar materials and techniques to those used on the original aircraft wherever possible. It has recently been fully painted and lining and registration are being applied.

The frame of the fuselage has been strengthen and repair including replacement cross-bracing.
New upper and lower fairings which support the fabric covering have been fabricated from strip wood, plywood and duralumin plates.
The cabin has been fabricated; the walls and ceiling are fabric covered over thin plywood, the wooden floor has been replaced and carpeted, new window frames and windows have been fitted and new cushioned seats have been added. A large rear window replaces the panel which gave access to the battery compartment, so that the construction within the rear fuselage can be viewed.
The new cockpit shell is fabricated with a plywood skin fitted over over an ash frame and includes wooden framed windows, a roof hatch, a pilot's seat and instrument panel. The composite nose cone is currently being made. The cockpit subframe has been restored, together with refurbished or replacement pilot’s controls.
A replacement fully-operating empennage (fin and rudder, tailplane and elevator) has been made from aluminium plate and tube, with a refurbished pitch trim mechanism plus replacement pulleys and cables for the control runs.

Wings: The restoration of the wings is almost complete. Both wings have been completed with fabric covered prior and are being painted.

For each spar box, replacement spars have been fitted together with refurbished and replacement cross bracing tubes and new bracing wires.
Replacement ribs have been made for the leading- and trailing-edges and wing tips; a few of the ribs in the leading edge of port wing have been salvaged and reused.
Replacement engine cowlings and new or refurbished engine bearers have been fitted.
New or refurbished aileron cranks and new control runs have been fitted.
There currently no fuel system, although new or refurbished fuel tank brackets have been fitted.
Fabrication of the ailerons has yet to be completed.

Floats: One original float borrowed had been borrowed from the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in Belfast and a replica float has been fabricated based on a 3-D model generated for the original. The fabrication of the twelve float struts and a beaching trolley has also been completed.

Land Undercarriage: A land undercarriage has also been refurbished, although some parts are still being sought.