By Staff
Waterhead™ Watersports
October 13, 2011

If you love flying and you love the water, you can couple your passions on a seaplane. This is one of the few man made machines that is capable of touching the elements, air, water and land, and of using them to offer people safe and convenient flight.  Seaplanes are types of airplanes that have fixed wings and can take off and land on water. You may have seen them in many a film, including James Bonds For Your Eyes Only and The Man with the Golden Gun and in Harrison Fords Six Days and Seven Nights.

The classic seaplane cannot land or take off from land and is restricted to the air and water. However, nowadays, many seaplanes have been designed and constructed to be amphibian planes. In such machines the wheels required for landing and takeoff are retractable. This makes the use of the water plane more versatile. 

Essentially there are two types of seaplanes and amphibians, and these include floatplanes and flying boats. The floatplanes are small airplanes that have slim pontoons or floats that are mounted beneath the fuselage. Only the floats or pontoons of the plane stay in contact with water. Floatplanes are great for water bodies that do not have waves higher than about 12 inches. The floats add to the weight of the plane and make it slower to take off. It also affects cruise time and the payload capacity of the floatplane.

In case of the flying boats the float mounts are attached just under the wings. The fuselage keeps the plane buoyant and acts kind of like a ships hull. Amphibians are also available in floatplane and flying boat styles. There are some models that come with retractable floats.

History of the Seaplanes

Gabriel Voisin, a French aircraft designer and builder, made the first seaplane in 1905. It was a biplane that rested on two floats. Voisin flew the first unpowered and controlled seaplane over the river Seine. In 1910 Henri Fabre, a French engineer, flew the Le Canard or the duck for a distance of 1650 feet. Thereafter, Charles and Gabriel Voisin continued to experiment and develop seaplanes. It was in 1912 that the first military seaplane was used for exercises from the La Foudre or the lightning, which was a seaplane carrier.

Seaplanes fascinated scientists and designers on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. In the United States in 1911, Glenn Curtiss flew what he referred to as his hydroaeroplane from the San Diego Bay. Some other distinguished members of the Ariel Experiment Association that Curtiss belonged to include Alexander Graham Bell. In Britain too, many aircraft builders tried to create a seaplane that was capable of taking off and landing in water safely.

In 1903 Orville Wright made the first marine aviation flight. There were many who believed that such a plane would be safer than flights that were initiated and landed on land. In fact, many commercial airlines such as Pan American World Airways preferred to use flying boats when they flew over oceans and seas. This took care of worries regarding long flights over water bodies. Large seaplanes such as the Boeing Clipper and Aeromarine 75 were constructed and used.

The Astra Hydravion was used in the Balkan Wars. It was also used to carry and drop bombs successfully without being affected by the enemy fire. Thereafter, many changes were made in the designs and models of Seaplanes. In 1919 a US navy flying boat completed the first successful transatlantic flight. It flew from Canada to the Azores Islands and to its final destination, Portugal.

In the Second World War seaplanes were used mostly for search and rescue and reconnaissance missions. Sometimes battleships would carry water planes, which would be launched as and when they were required. They were also utilized for anti-submarine warfare.

The Use of Seaplanes

Seaplanes are frequently used by the coast guards and other rescue operators. The flying boats can handle rough waters better than the floatplanes can.  It is important to take into consideration the airplanes float design, weight and size to determine the manner in which it can take off and land in rough weather conditions. Seaplanes are owned by governments, companies and also by individuals.

Over the last century the world has seen a wide range of seaplanes in action. From search and rescue missions to training and reconnaissance missions, they have been widely used by many countries across the world. For the military and the coast guard the Seaplanes are an excellent way to keep a close watch on areas that are otherwise difficult to approach. They are also used in air shows.

Sometimes flying boats and amphibian planes are also used for fighting fire. They skim water from the water bodies such as lakes and rivers and release it at the desired spot. On a commercial level, seaplanes offer visitors an opportunity to get a birds eye view of the area that they are visiting. With this means of transportation they are able to land on water and gain access to remote areas.

Seaplanes are rather useful in connecting islands with the mainland. They also help transport people to and from areas that have large stretches of water and where it is difficult for aircrafts to land. To this end, water planes are rather popular in areas such as Greece, Canada and Alaska. They are used to transport people and baggage to areas that may not have adequate airstrip for airplanes to land. Seaplanes are used extensively to deliver mail in areas that are remote. They are also used as aerial ambulances and for rescue missions. Adventurous pilots fly through areas where it is nearly impossible to land. They offer access to areas that other means of transportation fail to access easily.

If you are planning a holiday to an island, or live on one, you may prefer the convenience of using a seaplane to get to the mainland or to other islands, rather than taking a boat ride. This is one of the reasons that most holiday destinations on islands prefer to offer their guests the services of seaplanes.

Seaplanes are also a great favorite for sightseeing. And for some people it is the thrill of landing and taking off from the surface of water that keeps them fascinated. Resorts and lodges in Alaska, San Francisco, Vancouver and many other places offer seaplanes rides as a key tourist attraction. And they promise a ride of a lifetime.

You may plan a fishing or water sports trip and wish to hire a seaplane to get to and from your destination. For instance you may wish to arrive at a beach that is famous for the waves that you can ride on your surfboard. Some travel operators offer tailor made fishing holidays and frequently make use of seaplanes to move people to and from fishing spots and their accommodation. You might also consider a seaplane flight when you are on a fishing expedition. Some remote locations are accessible by boat or seaplane only. Seaplanes are also faster in case of an emergency and when medical attention is required quickly.

Some companies offer romantic getaways to isolated coves and beaches and you may consider such an offer when you wish to surprise your sweetheart. You could also plan a family get together on a beach where you are the only visitors.
Seaplanes such as the Beechcraft Model 18 were initially designed and constructed for military service. It was also used in the Second World War and is well known for its history of modifications. Today, Seaplanes such as this one are used in creative and versatile ways such as skywriting, crop dusting, towing banners and for cloud seeding.

Safety on Seaplanes

There are some companies that specialize in building water planes, while others offer their expertise in converting a small airplane so that it can safely function as a seaplane. Pilots of seaplanes have to pass mandatory training and examination before they are allowed to fly. Their training includes ground training, flight training and marine survival training. The flight training is usually focused on the type of areas that the pilot will be flying. Seaplane pilots are known to be adventurous and proficient in their skill. Passengers on seaplanes need to be aware of safety regulations in order to ensure safe passage. 

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