Print this page When Boats Had Wings: The Golden Age of Flying Boats
J.M. Syken
Course Outline
In this course, we will examine evolution of the flying boat from its early development as an alternate to land-based planes, through its improvements/uses during WWI, trans-oceanic attempts in the inter-war years and its “golden age” during the mid-to late 1930s as a viable means of long-distance travel by air. As well, we will examine the role of flying boats and other types of seaplanes during WWII, the Cold-War and technological/design developments through to the present day.
Our review will also include the technical aspects of flying boat design including hull, stabilizers, propulsion, navigation, communications, operations & maintenance etc. The early attempts at transoceanic navigation by flying boats including, in particular, the first successful trans-Atlantic flight by the U.S. Navy’s NC-4 (May 1919). The creation of the “Spruce Goose” – Howard Hughes’ enormous flying boat, including its many technical challenges/achievements and innovations will be of particular interest.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Understand/appreciate history of flying boat/seaplane development and how it was/is interdependent on the development of heavier-than-air flight from the earliest days of aviation;
- Understand/appreciate advantages and/or disadvantages of seaborne flight;
- Understand/appreciate the technical aspects of flying boat design and the inherent differences and/or similarities to land-based airplanes;
- Understand/appreciate the many contributions of aviation pioneers such as William E. Boeing, Glenn L. Martin, Igor Sikorsky and, in particular, Glenn H. Curtiss, to the development of the flying boat as a safe, reliable and efficient means of long distance travel by air;
- Understand/appreciate the significant achievements of the U.S. Navy in flying boat design including the first successful crossing of the Atlantic, initiating flights between San Francisco and Hawaii and the development of VPB (Patrol Bomber) squadrons;
- Understand/appreciate the testing/proving out involved with flying boat design/construction including wind tunnels, towing tanks, models and full-size prototype flight testing;
- Understand/appreciate the quest for trans-Atlantic airplane service and how/why the flying boat succeeded where the land plane failed in providing the first transoceanic service by air;
- Understand/appreciate the development of power plants for seaplanes including gasoline, diesel, steam and even a proposal for nuclear power;
- Understand/appreciate the development of propulsion including advancements in propeller design (i.e. variable-pitch, reversible, contra-rotating etc.) and the introduction of jet engines in the post-WWII era;
- Understand/appreciate the role played by flying boats and other seaplanes during WWI, WWII and the Cold-War period;
- Understand/appreciate why the flying boat fell out of favor as a means of long-distance travel by air in the post-WWII period due to advances in airplane design/range and the construction of airfields worldwide during the war (converted to civilian use in its aftermath); and
- Understand/appreciate the monumental achievement of Howard Hughes’ in creating the world’s largest flying boat – the “Spruce Goose” and how, though it only flew once, its legacy lives on.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for architects, engineers and other design professionals.
Benefit to Attendees
The attendee/s will gain an intimate knowledge and insight into the history of flying boats; their evolution, golden age, decline and on-going influence on heavier-than-air flight.
Course Introduction
The course includes an in-depth PowerPoint presentation and the viewing a documentary film.
Course Content
In this course, you are required to view/study the following slideshow and the materials contained in the web pages:
When Boats Had Wings: The Golden Age of Flying Boats (printable handout in PDF, 16 MB, see Note A below for downloading instruction)
When Boats Had Wings: The Golden Age of Flying Boats (non-printable slideshow for screen-viewing only, 68 MB, see Note A below for downloading instruction)
Archival/Documentary Film:
TITLE: Do-X 1929 – A Giant Flying Boat
LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwPRGFN-TVA
DURATION: 10:32
Title: The Giants - Flying Boats
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y22F9O3A0EM
Duration: 51:24
Note A: Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right-clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader from your computer.
Course Summary
It was an era when every flight was an adventure, not only for the passengers but for the crew itself. It wasn’t enough that the pilot knew how to fly the cumbersome craft from point A to point B, each member of the flight crew had to know each others job well enough to take their place in an emergency. Thus, the navigator could fill-in for the flight engineer, the flight engineer for the pilot etc., etc. By the time the Captain achieved the title: “Master of Ocean Flying Boats,” he was not only a seasoned pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight engineer, mechanic, diplomat and language expert, but also a professional seaman for a flying boat was both airplane and ship. Though Lindbergh had flown nonstop across the Atlantic in a small plane in 1927, it would be the flying boat that would provide regular, reliable and safe passenger service a decade later via the famous Pan American Airways’ “Flying Clippers.” WWII brought about significant advances in range, speed and power to land-based planes and the advantage seaplanes had before the war (essentially, two-thirds of the earth’s surface was available for landings and/or take-offs) was negated by the multitude of airfields constructed during the war in far-flung and often remote places. Though the golden age of flying boats has passed, it is fondly remembered as a shining moment in aviation history.
Related Links
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_boat
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_H-4_Hercules
http://www.archive.org/stream/flightacrossatla00curtrich#page/n8/mode/1up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ImwN-WDTmc
(The War Boats – Flying Boats)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pl1aMVnZyY
(Wet Jets: Saunders-Roe SR A/1 and Convair Sea Dart)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV1eUeo27tc
(Saunders-Roe Princess Flying Boats)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9CVbDaXWnY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-63IBn6c_M
(Short S23 C Class Empire Flying Boats – Parts 1 & 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bP2MH3LqvI
(Film: The Propeller Explained - 24:05)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CKcdCI6Z74
(Film: The K-4 Hercules: Howard Hughes' Behemoth of a Plane - 18:18)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atawT3whjPY
(Film: The Nuclear Seaplanes Created to Replace America's Aircraft Carriers - 10:23)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvCgjr1ITwc
(Film: The Soviet's Secret Caspian Sea Monster - 12:04)
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
