Flying boats and seaplanes originated soon after the first aircraft took flight. At the time runways were limited and often could only be used by smaller aircraft. It was a great advantage to be able to take off and land on water. The world’s largest aircraft, the Spruce Goose, was one among the many flying boats and seaplanes of the world.
During the Wars it was an advantage for a ship to be able to carry seaplanes to use as a spotter and for reconnaissance, capable of defending against submarine attacks, and for rescues at sea. A number of land-based aircraft were converted to seaplanes and amphibians, from having landing gear to floats, or both. These aircraft were launched from ships via a catapult and, when landed in the sea, cranes on board the ships recovered them.
Flying boats and seaplanes are still being used today. The CL-415 and Be-200 Super Scoopers skim over the water to quickly replenish their water supply for fire fighting. Private recreational aircraft may be designed as flying boats and seaplanes. They can have fuselages designed like the hull of a boat or may be equipped with floats for flying into otherwise inaccessible locations.
You Tube – Flying Boats and Seaplanes
Flying boats and seaplanes used by Great Britain for pilot training: A.19 Saro Cloud
Largest current flying boats and seaplanes: A-40 Albatross
Single engine pusher prop biplane multipurpose seaplanes deployed primarily by the U.S. Navy. The first to fly using auto pilot on August 30, 1913 and the first to be launched by catapult from a cruising U.S. Navy ship on November 5, 1915: Curtiss AB-2
Seaplanes, fitted with landing gear and arresting hook, that made the first ever underway U.S. aircraft carrier landing: Aeromarine Model 39B
Training seaplanes produced during World War 1 with the student sitting adjacent to the instructor: Aeromarine 40F
Two place recreational seaplanes sold as plans from 1969 to 1978. Some 200 sets of plans were sold: Anderson EA-1
Ultralight produced by Aero Adventure in single two seat versions. It has a flying boat hull and is sold in kit form. Flaps are electrically actuated, and the elevator trim is a manually controlled. Options are available for either manual or electric operating landing gear, making the aircraft an amphibian. The faster to build single seat version is said to assemble in about 90 hours, with the two seat aircraft taking about 130 hours for assembly: Aventura
Amphibian jet powered sea planes, used primarily for water bombing, produced in Russia: Beriev Be-200
A bush pilot favorite when equipped as seaplanes with floats: de Havilland Beaver
Largest ever mass produced flying boat and seaplanes deployed during WW II: Blohm & Voss BV 222
World’s largest one of a kind of all flying boats and sea planes built during WW II: Blohm & Voss BV 238
Experimental Italian nine wing early flying boats and seaplanes: Caproni Ca.60
Name given to flying boats and seaplanes that began commercial flight service for Pan American Airlines in the 1930’s: China Clippers
Flying boats and seaplanes that can Scoop a 1,620 gallon water load in just twelve seconds: CL-415 Super Scooper
Twin engine flying boats and seaplanes with a boat type fuselage, used primarily in the Caribbean for transporting up to 32 passengers, they first flew in 1930: Consolidated Commodore
Highly regarded WW II amphibian flying boats and seaplanes used by the Luftwaffe: Dornier Do 24
World’s largest flying boats and seaplanes when first flown, and heaviest aircraft during their deployments: Dornier Do X
Seaplanes dispatched throughout the British Empire from 1923 to 1934: Fairey Flycatcher
Primary single engine workhorse military amphibian seaplanes for the U.S. and its allies: Grumman Duck
Supersonic jet fighter seaplanes: F2Y Sea Dart
U.S. Navy twin engine flying boats and seaplanes, used for coastal patrol, which first flew in 1918: Curtiss F5L
Popular twin engine flying boats and seaplanes, popular with the military in WWII: Grumman Goose
Long range twin engine biplane seaplanes used for maritime patrol, deployed by the U.S. Navy and Royal Navy, that first flew in 1914: Curtiss H-12
Flying boats and seaplanes which rescued thousands of troops from coastal waters and rivers: HU-16 Albatross
Amphibious seaplanes, with assembly of the first prototype production aircraft started in February 2014: ICON A5
Twin seat seaplanes amphibians sold as a kit for home building, first flown in 1969: Anderson Kingfisher
Single pusher prop seaplanes with a crew of two and flying boat hulls produced during WWI by Austria-Hungary: Lohner E
World War I flying boats and seaplanes with a flying boat hull made by Austria-Hungry. It was a biplane with a longer upper wing and shorter lower wing and was powered by a single pusher prop. The crew, a pilot and observer, sat next to each other in an open cockpit: Lohner L
Last seaplanes racer design without pontoons ever to enter the Schneider Trophy race: Macchi M33
On Oct. 23, 1933 set the still standing world seaplane speed record: Macchi Castoldi MC-72
Largest water bomber flying boats and seaplanes; the largest to ever enter production: Martin Mars
Single engine WW II seaplanes known for rescuing downed pilots: OS2U Kingfisher
U.S. Navy long range monoplane twin engine flying boats and seaplanes that served from 1929 to 1941: Consolidated P2Y
Four engine jet bomber flying boats and seaplanes: P6M Sea Master
Flying boats and seaplanes that sighted the Bismarck and Japanese fleets during World War II: Consolidated PBY Catalina
Seaplanes that, for years, were the only single engine amphibians in the world: Lake Renegade
Seaplanes which set a total of fourteen world records including altitude, distance, and speed: Savoia Marchetti S.55
Four seat recreational seaplanes that can fly at 200 mph: Seawind Amphibians
Described as the greatest flying boats and sea planes ever built: Short Sunderland
Largest among the flying boats and sea planes ever made: Spruce Goose
Great Britain’s first seaplanes: Supermarine Baby
Single hull seaplanes built after WW1, they were able to be catapult launched from war ships or take off and land from aircraft carriers: Supermarine Sea King
Recreational seaplanes, biplane amphibians, available as kits or ultralites: Super Petrel
Seaplanes known for their ruggedness, dependability, and utility: Grumman Widgeon
Seaplanes which were unsuccessfully developed by the 1933 German Ministry of Aviation as trainers for future Luftwaffe pilots: WNF (Wiener Neustadter Flugzeugwerke) Wn-11
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