the felixstowe f.2a, first production seaplane, , basis future development
at felixstowe, porte made advances in flying-boat design , developed practical hull design distinctive felixstowe notch . porte s first design implemented in felixstowe felixstowe porte baby, large, three-engined biplane flying boat, powered 1 central pusher , 2 outboard tractor rolls-royce eagle engines.
porte modified h-4 new hull improved hydrodynamic qualities made taxiing, take-off , landing more practical , called felixstowe f.1.
porte s innovation of felixstowe notch enabled craft overcome suction water more , break free flight more easily. made operating craft far safer , more reliable. notch breakthrough after evolve step , rear section of lower hull sharply recessed above forward lower hull section, , characteristic became feature of both flying-boat hulls , seaplane floats. resulting aircraft large enough carry sufficient fuel fly long distances , berth alongside ships take on more fuel.
porte designed similar hull larger curtiss h-12 flying boat which, while larger , more capable h-4s, shared failings of weak hull , poor water handling. combination of new porte-designed hull, time fitted 2 steps, wings of h-12 , new tail, , powered 2 rolls-royce eagle engines, named felixstowe f.2 , first flew in july 1916, proving superior curtiss on based. used basis future designs. entered production felixstowe f.2a, being used patrol aircraft, 100 being completed end of world war i. seventy built, , these followed 2 f.2c, built @ felixstowe.
in february 1917, first prototype of felixstowe f.3 flown. larger , heavier f.2, giving greater range , heavier bomb load, poorer agility. approximately 100 felixstowe f.3s produced before end of war.
the felixstowe f.5, designed lieutenant commander john cyril porte @ seaplane experimental station, felixstowe
the felixstowe f.5 intended combine qualities of f.2 , f.3, prototype first flying in may 1918. prototype showed superior qualities predecessors but, ease production, production version modified make extensive use of components f.3, resulted in lower performance f.2a or f.5.
porte s final design @ seaplane experimental station 123-foot-span five-engined felixstowe fury triplane (also known porte super-baby or psb ).
f.2, f.3, , f.5 flying boats extensively employed royal navy coastal patrols , search german u-boats. in 1918, towed on lighters towards northern german ports extend range; on 4 june 1918, resulted in 3 f.2as engaging in dogfight ten german seaplanes, shooting down 2 confirmed , 4 probables @ no loss. result of action, british flying boats dazzle-painted aid identification in combat.
felixstowe f5l under construction @ naval aircraft factory, philadelphia, circa 1920
the curtiss aeroplane , motor company independently developed designs small model f, larger model k (several of sold russian naval air service), , model c u.s. navy. curtiss, among others, built felixstowe f.5 curtiss f5l, based on final porte hull designs , powered american liberty engines.
meanwhile, pioneering flying-boat designs of françois denhaut had been steadily developed franco-british aviation company range of practical craft. smaller felixstowes, several thousand fbas served of allied forces reconnaissance craft, patrolling north sea, atlantic , mediterranean oceans.
in italy, several seaplanes developed, starting l series , progressing m series. macchi m.5, in particular, extremely manoeuvrable , agile , matched land-based aircraft had fight. 2 hundred forty-four built in total. towards end of world war i, aircraft flown italian navy aviation, united states navy , united states marine corps airmen. ensign charles hammann won first medal of honor awarded united states naval aviator in m.5
the german aircraft manufacturing company hansa-brandenburg built flying boats starting model hansa-brandenburg gw in 1916, , had degree of military success hansa-brandenburg w.12 two-seat floatplane fighter following year, being primary aircraft flown imperial germany s notable, 13-victory maritime fighter ace, friedrich christiansen. austro-hungarian firm lohner-werke began building flying boats, starting lohner e in 1914 , later (1915) influential lohner l version.
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