Stereoscope and Wild A5 Autograph were the main instruments in wartime aerial photography both used for reconnaissance of enemy’s strategic positions and moves using information from photographs and transferring them into drawn maps.    

The restoration and preservation of the Southampton flying boat was interesting as skills needed revival as long since discarded or new skills and techniques were developed. N9899 was rescued from being used as house boat and fully restored as the last example of fuselage made entirely of wood. 15m long and 2.5m wide the design skilfully combines aerodynamic efficiency  with traditional boat building techniques to ensure good air and water performance. Thus an essentially tubular fuselage structure is built upon keel with planing surfaces similar to those of high speed launch. The hull is made on a frame of fore and aft spruce stringers on oval hoops and saddles of American elm which are planked over with two skins. The inner skin of Cedar is laid diagonally, the outer of Mahogany is laid longitudinally. the skins are separated by a varnished fabric membrane. Fixings are brass screws or clenched copper nails.