Aircraft appreciation thread #1 - Seaplanes!

[Mickey]

It had to come eventually!

and so did this, the Supermarine S.6B, designed by R.J. Mitchell for the Schneider Trophy races. You can see similarities to Mitchell's next, famous project.

[klr]

Ah, the S.6B!

But it's more flying boats from me for the moment. The post-war Shin Meiwa (similarities with WW II H8K are probably no coincidence):

http://www.flugzeuginfo.net/acimages/us ... huizen.jpg[/imgc]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ShinMaywa_US-1

Mention of the S.6B reminds me that the Italians were the chief competitors in those competitions. Here's an Italian flying boat, the Cant Z.501 Gabbiano (Gull):

http://www.seawings.co.uk/images/manual ... /Pic-6.JPG[/imgc]
I wouldn't like to be the guy sitting behind the engine ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CANT_Z.501

[CJ]

I wouldn't like to be the guy sitting behind the engine ...

The exact same thought went through my mind when I saw the picture.

[klr]

I wouldn't like to be the guy sitting behind the engine ...

The exact same thought went through my mind when I saw the picture.

On a similar theme, this is the Supermarine Walrus:

http://www.doghousecrafts.co.uk/handdaf ... walrus.jpg[/imgc]

http://users.atw.hu/priskos/Alakulatok- ... Walrus.jpg[/imgc]
I wouldn't be too happy to be the rear gunner in this one either, knowing there was a propeller just behind my head.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Walrus

[Mickey]

A classic civilian flying boat, the Boeing 314 'Clipper'

[klr]

I was going to post that earlier, but got sidetracked. I have an old Airfix 1/144th scale kit in an attic somewhere ...

Another bit of modelling nostalgia:

http://modelingmadness.com/scotts/allies/gb/sfoxbt.jpg[/imgc]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Seafox

[Mickey]

Here's a strange one, the DFS SeeAdler (SeaEagle). Test pilot was Hanna Reitsch, a famous glider pilot who also test flew the V1 flying bomb!

I can't think what the purpose of a float-sailplane could be apart from testing for later powered seaplanes, whilst the Luftwaffe was officially limited to flying sailplanes.
I shall have to do some more research.

[klr]

That's a new one to me alright. Hanna Reitsch was a bit of headcase BTW, although she gave some valuable eyewitness testimony on the last days in the Berlin bunker ...

Going right back to the Great War, the Felixstowe F.2:

http://www.aviastar.org/pictures/englan ... _f2a_1.jpg[/imgc]

http://warandgame.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/felix.jpg[/imgc]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felixstowe_F.2

[Mickey]

Found this whilst looking for something else completely unrelated to aviation ..

The first passenger and mail flight in Iceland was made on the 4th June 1928. This first flight flew from Reykjavík to Akureyri with stops at Ísafjörður and Siglufjörður. The total flying time was about 4 hours and 45 minutes. The aircraft was a Junkers F.13, which bore the registration D-463. In Iceland it was given the name "Súlan". The pilot on this flight was Fritz Simon.

[klr]

Found this whilst looking for something else completely unrelated to aviation ..

The first passenger and mail flight in Iceland was made on the 4th June 1928. This first flight flew from Reykjavík to Akureyri with stops at Ísafjörður and Siglufjörður. The total flying time was about 4 hours and 45 minutes. The aircraft was a Junkers F.13, which bore the registration D-463. In Iceland it was given the name "Súlan". The pilot on this flight was Fritz Simon.

I was going to post the F.13 a couple of days ago ...

[Don't Panic]

Thread moved to history forum at OP request.

[klr]

Thread moved to history forum at OP request.

[Don't Panic]

Thread moved to history forum at OP request.

No worries.

[klr]

To celebrate, the Kawanishi H6K 'Mavis':

http://warandgame.files.wordpress.com/2 ... k-main.jpg[/imgc]

... and the Kawanishi H8K 'Emily':

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... ke_off.png[/imgc]

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/IJ ... mily-2.jpg[/imgc]

[Cwazy Cat Lady]

Here are the two planes I rode in yesterday:

A Turbine Otter (yes, with this wrapping from a local television show) on the way home:



And this Turbine Beaver on the way up:



You can see this was taken at the dock in Victoria...