European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 23, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The solent Mark Iii waa built a a Aub Marine Hunter but used instead to carry  the vanishing flying boat by James o. Cliffor associated press writer Howard Hughes had a thing Aboul Hying boats. The late billionaire built the legendary Spruce Goose and though the huge wooden Craft made Only one Short flight it brings thousands of visitors to the Long Beach calif., tourist Complex in shares with the liner Queen Mary. Not As Well known is the fact that Hughes had at least three other flying boats. Two have been scrapped. The third is the last link to the Days of the planes that joined continents with luxury flight says a Man who has spent 10 years researching the aircraft. Quot she was the Orient express of the air quoted Davies said of the flying boat that sits next to the Western aerospace museum in Oakland calif., Ign ominously perched on wheels. The planes that became a byword for elegance in the air were born of necessity. Aviation technology had simply gotten ahead of itself. During the 1930s, planes could be made powerful enough to Span the Globe but they were too big to land at existing airports. The answer was the flying boat. Its runway was the water. The 90-foot Long solent Mark Iii was built in 1946 by Short Brothers Ltd. Of England. It carried a maximum of 34 passengers Between Britain and Africa for British overseas airways corp. On a leisurely 4v�-Day flight said Davies an aviation writer. There were four overnight stops on the 5,600 nautical mile route from Southampton to Vaal am a Lake on the Vaal River. Quot there s nothing like it left in the United states Quot said Davies who with other volunteers is working to restore the plane the pan american clippers that zoomed across the Atlantic and Pacific shortly before world War ii providing the Best known chapter in flying boat lore can Only be glimpsed in old movies he said. Quot Here we have a touch of How it was Quot Davies said there s a Long Way to go before the plane is restored to the condition of its heyday. But the volunteers have managed to produce a Trace of the elegance enjoyed by pampered passengers aboard the plane with a Hull so big it held three decks. As visitors enter the lower deck they step into a Small bar. To the rear is the women s powder room. Three passenger compartments Are to the front each entered through watertight doors. A table set for Fine dining gives new meaning to Quot airline  the windows provided Superb viewing. Passengers could watch wildlife As the plane swooped Low Over the Veldt on its journey across Africa the seats Are Plush. Plush enough for Harrison Ford who sat in one during a scene in the 1981 smash film raiders of the lost Ark. Headrests Are so comfortable it s easy to fall asleep. Quot but the plane was t a Sleeper Quot said Davies. Quot it landed and the passengers stayed the night at  the four engined solent dubbed the City of Cardiff when it worked for Boac actually was t designed to haul passengers. Its original Mission was to Hunt submarines for the Royal air Force. The plane missed world War ii a conflict that saw the growth of air planes and runways to handle them. The Days of the flying boat were numbered. The City of Cardiff eventually Island hopped around the South Pacific before it was bought by a shipping line that in turn sold it and two sister planes to Hughes. Hughes kept the three under guard in nearby Richmond the three flying boats deteriorated and when the reclusive billionaire died his Summa corp. Sold the planes for junk in 1972. Rick and Randy Grant partners in an oceanographic engineering firm managed to buy one before it was broken up. They and the volunteers Hope to eventually make the plane airworthy. For now a visitor can stand on the flight deck and gaze out the Pilot s window it does t take much imagination to get a feel of How it was a the increasing Tempo of the engines As the plane races Down the water the sea Spray slashing at the cockpit Glass the Hull slowly freeing itself until it reaches for the sky. And there a always the  action lonesome Dod jobs open to overseas retirees a add locally hired retired military personnel to those who d happily fill the expensive stateside hired is positions retrained experienced and disciplined most military retirees in Europe Are quite willing to be Quot emergency essential when hired in excepted service without benefits such As Auto shipment housing dollars and cola Cost of living allowance. However my 20 years plus experience a bachelors degree m management a master s degree in Public administration and a sincere desire for government service won t buy a gs-1 Job Here in Baum older. The co civilian personnel office Only offers positions to family members with the exception of a Dodds teacher department of defense dependents schools. My question. The Kaiserslautern co offers 10 percent and 30 percent disabled appointments veterans readjustment act appointments and overseas limited appointments in addition to family member appointments so Why Don t All pos use All the various appointment authorities including All categories m of Competition seems Only fair and has a higher probability of finding the Best person for our lax Dollar. Randall e. Norman Baum older Germany Lora Harper personnel staffing specialist he Usa eur Deputy chief of staff personnel civilian personnel division replies you make several statements concerning Quot savings Quot which can be realized by tilling vacant jobs with locally hired former military members you also complain that with the exception of Dodds positions your servicing civilian personnel office hires Only family members and you ask Why All civilian personnel offices co do not make use of a variety of types of appointment authorities to ensure Usa eur organizations get the Best person available Lor the tax Dollar i.e., use disabled Veteran veterans readjustment act Viand overseas limited appointment authorities to hire within theater. It is important to remember that Usa eur positions consist of three Basic types. A u s appropriated fund positions that must be filled with u s citizen employees. A local National positions which according to the nato status of forces agreement must be filled by local or third country National in employees or family members of u s military or civilian employees a non appropriated fund positions which May be tilled from either u s citizen or in sources. In positions make up a substantial proportion of the Usa eur work Force. Since the majority of vacancies represent in positions the Only u s citizen candidates who can be considered for these jobs Are family members. Within these constraints Usa eur pos can and do use a variety of appointment authorities to fill appropriated fund vacancies. As Usa eur organizations draw Down however fewer and fewer vacancies Are being filled with external candidates and increasing attention is being focused on minimizing displacement of employees already on Board. Since non appropriated fund employment opportunities continue to be Good the writer May wish to consider employment under that system or pursue other employment opportunities. To write us readers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort Quot striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. Alt letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers. Page 16 a the stars and stripes saturday May 23, 1992