OCTOBER 12, 2007: An aircraft enthusiast wanted to take 40 young people off the streets of Greenock by recruiting them in a £1 million project to build a flying boat.

Retired ship draughtsman Ray Dixon came up with the idea of building a life-sized replica of a 1936 Caledonia flying boat after Quantas Airlines commissioned him to produce drawings for a plane in Australia.

The 68-year-old, a former worker with the Haven’s Teen Challenge, decided to use the same drawings to build another replica in Greenock.

He believed the project could help to prevent young people from falling into drugs and crime and has applied to the Big Lottery Fund Scotland for funding.

Ray said: “Quantas wanted line plans and we said we’d do them free of charge. I thought, if we’re doing it for Australia, why not do it for us? It would be great to employ the services of 40 young people in Inverclyde, it could get them off the streets for two years.

“It’s just so important to find work for the kids. “I have a heart for young people — especially those who have got into drugs and alcohol, knives and guns.”

The 1936 Caledonia C-class flying boat was built by Short Brothers for the former Imperial Airways, which later became British Airways.

Known as ‘Empire boats’, they were required by the Air Ministry to carry passengers and mail between Britain and the colonies, especially Australia.

A company in Singapore had also asked for the line plans.

But the Greenock project depended on Ray, of Kilcreggan View, getting the £1m funding and finding a home for the plane.

Already, a joiner who worked on the QE2 and a naval architect have said they want to join the project.

Ray said: “We’re looking for maybe six to eight retired personnel who could teach these young people how to build this thing.

“I don’t doubt that once we get started someone else will want one, and eventually, museums too.”