Hi Graham,
You are quite right in saying the Solent 1 never went into service in that configuration, but the first aircraft converted was Seaford NJ201 (OZZA) which was evaluated for civil use as Short Solent G-AGWU, although not fully converted.
Chris Barnes (Shorts Aircraft since 1900, Putnam, 1967) notes that 12 new build were ordered using the proposed Solent 1 layout (30 day or 20 night) but BOAC requested a day passenger only layout which became the Solent 2 - which agrees with the info you have from Hannah. G-AGWU was not used, but did test the modifications for the service aircraft, including the new float struts.
The conversion of the six Seaford to Solent 3 was to yet another different spec with 39 passengers. And we know the Solent 4 was built to order for TEAL.
When Aquila Airways needed more aircraft, they acquired the old NJ201/G-AGWU but she was re-registered as G-ANAJ
City of Funchal. She was converted by the airline, not Short Brothers, apparently to Solent 3 standard, but there seem to have been some variations. There is logic in accepting that G-AGWU was the Solent 1, even if not fully converted. But when the airline brought her into use as G-ANAJ, was she really a full Solent 3 spec or an awkward hybrid? I don't know. The answer may lie in the Ministry of Civil Aviation airworthiness files for her, which I've not yet seen, hence my earlier question.
And to add to the confusion, look at the CAA records on G-info.
The page for G-ANAJ says "Solent Mk3":
http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?c ... gmark=ANAJBut, the pdf scan of the register entry clearly states "Solent Mk1":
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-ANAJ.pdfIf these things didn't happen, research would be sooo much simpler. Does anybody have evidence of the interior layout for G-ANAJ to compare with the Solent 3s?
AllanK