Early pioneers Seaplane

gabriel voisin, air pioneer, made 1 of earliest flights in seaplane, henry farman (left), in 1908

the frenchman alphonse pénaud filed first patent flying machine boat hull , retractable landing gear in 1876, austrian wilhelm kress credited building first seaplane, drachenflieger, in 1898, although 2 30 hp daimler engines inadequate take-off, , later sank when 1 of 2 floats collapsed.

on 6 june 1905, gabriel voisin took off , landed on river seine towed kite glider on floats. first of unpowered flights 150 yards (140 m). later built powered floatplane in partnership louis blériot, machine unsuccessful.

other pioneers attempted attach floats aircraft in britain, australia, france , united states.

on 28 march 1910, frenchman henri fabre flew first successful powered seaplane, gnome omega-powered hydravion, trimaran floatplane. fabre s first successful take off , landing powered seaplane inspired other aviators, , designed floats several other flyers. first hydro-aeroplane competition held in monaco in march 1912, featuring aircraft using floats fabre, curtiss, tellier , farman. led first scheduled seaplane passenger services, @ aix-les-bains, using five-seat sanchez-besa 1 august 1912. french navy ordered first floatplane in 1912.

in 1911−12, françois denhaut constructed first seaplane fuselage forming hull, using various designs give hydrodynamic lift @ take-off. first successful flight on 13 april 1912. throughout 1910 , 1911, american pioneering aviator glenn curtiss developed floatplane successful curtiss model d land-plane, used larger central float , sponsons. combining floats wheels, made first amphibian flights in february 1911 , awarded first collier trophy flight achievement. 1912, experiments hulled seaplane resulted in 1913 model e , model f, called flying-boats . in february 1911, united states navy took delivery of curtiss model e , tested landings on , take-offs ships, using curtiss model d.

in britain, captain edward wakefield , oscar gnosspelius began explore feasibility of flight water in 1908. decided make use of windermere in lake district, england’s largest lake. latter s first attempts fly attracted large crowds, though aircraft failed take off , required re-design of floats incorporating features of borwick’s successful speed-boat hulls. meanwhile, wakefield ordered floatplane similar design of 1910 fabre hydravion. november 1911, both gnosspelius , wakefield had aircraft capable of flight water , awaited suitable weather conditions. gnosspelius s flight short-lived, aircraft crashed lake. wakefield’s pilot, however, taking advantage of light northerly wind, took off , flew @ height of 50 feet (15 m) ferry nab, made wide turn , returned perfect landing on lake’s surface.

in switzerland, emile taddéoli equipped dufaux 4 biplane swimmers , took off in 1912. seaplane used during balkan wars in 1913, when greek astra hydravion did reconnaissance of turkish fleet , dropped 4 bombs.