A very interesting photo of a CNAC S-43 at the Kai Tak seaplane pier. Airline service to Hong Kong had barely started in 1937, but a control tower, built in 1935, seems to be visible, checkered, to the right of the tailfin. The CNAC logo, the character 中, seems to be painted on the rudder. Two S-43s were transferred to CNAC by Pan Am. NC16930 reportedly named Chekiang. Reg cancelled as 'exported to China' on 8 August 1937, but the aircraft crashed on that very day while en route from Hong Kong to Shanghai. The seven passengers survived but three of the four crew were killed. Photo from: SFO Museum

'Seaplane on the Min River.' In 1934 Pan Am bought two eight-seat Douglas Dolphins for its Chinese subsidiary. They served on a coastal route between Shanghai and Shantou, extended to Hong Kong in 1936. The Min River of Fujian province reaches the sea near Fuzhou and the photo was probably taken there, by a teacher or student of the Fukien Christian University. Photo from: Yale University Library

First noted at the China Aviation Museum in 1996. Had been refurbished since my 2008 photo.

First noted at the China Aviation Museum in 1996.

First noted at the China Aviation Museum in 1996. Traces of a military serial can be seen on the tail.

No location given. 26 was destroyed in a Japanese air raid on Hong Kong on December 8, 1941. Photo from: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Withdrawn from use in 1953. Photo from: Whites Aviation Collection/Alexander Turnbull Library

Leased from China Southwest June 1995-Dec 1996

Delivered new 12th Sep 1994 and transferred to China Southwest, then Air China

Although this aircraft sports a new paint job and is positioned in a new location it still sports a fake registration.