[a][2][3] Although generally similar to the Empire boat, Maia differed considerably in detail: the hull sides were flared and had "tumblehome" rather than being vertical as on the Empire to increase the planing surface (necessary for the higher take-off weights); larger control surfaces; an increase in total wing area from 1,500 sq ft (140 m2) to 1,750 sq ft (163 m2); the engines were mounted further from the wing root to clear Mercury's floats and the rear fuselage was swept up to raise the tailplane relative to the wing.

[4] The upper component, Mercury, was a twin-float, four-engine seaplane crewed by a single pilot and a navigator, who sat in tandem in an enclosed cockpit.

[6] The first successful in-flight separation was carried out from the Shorts works at Borstal, near Rochester, Medway, on 6 February 1938, Maia piloted by Parker and Mercury by Harold Piper.

[8] Mercury separated from her carrier at 8 pm to continue what was to become the first commercial[c] non-stop East-to-West transatlantic flight by a heavier-than-air machine.

After modifications to extend Mercury's range, it established a record flight for a seaplane of 6,045 miles (9,728 km) from Dundee in Scotland to Alexander Bay, in South Africa between 6 and 8 October 1938.

When this squadron was re-equipped with Lockheed Hudsons, Mercury was returned to Shorts at Rochester on 9 August 1941 and broken up so that its aluminium could be recycled for use in the war effort.

The world record long-distance flight by a seaplane was achieved by the aircraft "Mercury", the upper component of the Short Mayo...

The two experimental planes ...were built by Short Brothers for Imperial Airways and designed to carry mail long distances without refueling...