Seaplane

A seaplane is an aircraft designed to take off and land (correctly, though less commonly termed, "alight") upon water.

History of seaplanes

Early development was carried out at Hammondsport, New York by Glenn Curtiss who had beaten Alexander Graham Bell and others in the Aerial Experiment Association.

Related Topics:
Hammondsport - New York - Glenn Curtiss - Alexander Graham Bell - Aerial Experiment Association

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During World Wars I and II, many navies used seaplanes for reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare. Most battleships carried one or two catapult-launched seaplanes to spot targets over the horizon for the big guns, or to fight off enemy reconnaissance planes. The failure of the German battleship Bismarck's Arado 196 seaplane to hunt down a PBY Catalina reconnaissance aircraft is said to have contributed to the ship's demise.

Related Topics:
World Wars I - II - Navies - Reconnaissance - Anti-submarine warfare - Battleship - German battleship ''Bismarck'' - Arado 196 - PBY Catalina

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One of Howard Hughes' best-known endeavors was the H-4 Hercules (nicknamed the "Flying Lumberyard" and, more famously, the "Spruce Goose" — although its frame was built predominantly of birch), a massive flying boat completed just after the end of World War II. The Hercules only flew once (with Hughes at the controls) in 1947. The plane was originally commissioned by the U.S. government for use in World War II, but was not completed until after the War.

Related Topics:
Howard Hughes - Spruce Goose - 1947

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Today, seaplanes are mostly considered obsolete for military purposes; seaplane tenders, such as HMS Engadine, fell out of use after the 1950s with the general demise of the seaplane, the advent of the first stable, fully-controllable helicopter, and continued development of the modern aircraft carrier.

Related Topics:
Seaplane tender - HMS ''Engadine'' - 1950 - Helicopter - Aircraft carrier

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