# Aviation Types- Flying Boats? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 17, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198 "2011-05-17T13:45:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/41 "2011-06-09T07:58:14Z")
> [@butler1850](#): > > [Antilles Seaplanes](http://www.antillesseaplanes.com/) is taking orders for a new production Goose. > > If I hit the lottery for the big payout, an order for one goes in immediately, and I then begin flight lessons to work my way to certification to fly it. Then I begin flying around the hemisphere hunting & fishing. I’ve got the very same dream. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/42 "2011-06-09T12:31:10Z")
I didn’t see this [one](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_H-4_Hercules) mentioned in my quick scan of the post. Almost new, only flown once for a very short period. And it may actually be available. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/43 "2013-02-19T15:02:40Z")
There’s a [PBY-5A Catalina](http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PBY-5A-CONSOLIDATED-VULTEE-SEAPLANE-SALE-/251231545780?pt=Motors_Aircraft&hash=item3a7e9129b4#ht_918wt_1182) on eBay right now. It’s a project plane that hasn’t flown since 2000. And it’s in Puerto Rico. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/44 "2013-02-19T16:12:23Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > There’s a [PBY-5A Catalina](http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PBY-5A-CONSOLIDATED-VULTEE-SEAPLANE-SALE-/251231545780?pt=Motors_Aircraft&hash=item3a7e9129b4#ht_918wt_1182) on eBay right now. It’s a project plane that hasn’t flown since 2000. And it’s in Puerto Rico. You haven’t left yet? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/45 "2013-02-19T16:20:17Z")
Are there any Dornier DO-X seaplanes flying? They were uber-cool! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Milton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6bbea6/32.png) [@Mr.Milton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Milton)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/46 "2013-02-19T18:53:28Z")
Back in the day, flying boats replaced or at least suplemented non-flying boats (ships) as transportation. You might take one to Cuba, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, the various Pacific Islands, and of course back to the mainland cities of SF, Miami, etc. For those who were previously accustomed to taking a ship to the various overseas (literally) locations, a flying boat was a huge improvement in terms of speed. It made sense to fly to the port of Honolulu or Havana or whevever, because that’s where you went anyway if you had chosen to take a ship; everything was at those ports, the hotels, connectins to inland, etc. Flying anywhere was pretty expensve and quite a luxury in the early days, as you can imagine. Sort of like going first-class on a ship. A big drawback of flying boats was/is collisions with floating objects like logs. These often are hard to see when you’re on the water, but can have disasatrous consequences if you hit one at high speed. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/47 "2013-02-19T20:40:01Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Are there any Dornier DO-X seaplanes flying? They were uber-cool! If you paid no mind to their cost or their performance or their reliability, maybe. No, only three were built, and all were destroyed in the war. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/48 "2013-02-19T23:53:34Z")
No chance of a supersonic seaplane (improvement over the Martin Seamaster)? Or maybe a spruce goose that really flies? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/49 "2013-02-20T00:20:10Z")
A hull does not lend itself to supersonic flight. Jet engines operate more efficiently at high altitudes. Seawater ingestion is probably not a good thing. There’s no viable market for supersonic transports, and really no shortage of runways. Considering the limitations and added expense, I’d say no chance. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/50 "2013-02-20T00:35:25Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > If you paid no mind to their cost or their performance or their reliability, maybe. > No, only three were built, and all were destroyed in the war. It’s still the only 12-engined plane I’m aware of. (Got all the numbers up to 12 covered, except 9 and 11.) ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/51 "2013-02-20T00:49:27Z")
The DO-X is a fascinating what-might-have-been airplane. They were so huge and heavy and underpowered that they operated best in ground effect, and had a service ceiling of only 1,650 ft, with a blistering cruising speed of 105 mph. But what a show it must have been to see one of them taking off or landing. I’d have loved to hear those twelve engines at full throttle! An really excellent article on the DO-X is here: [http://air-boyne.com/the-dornier-do-x-what-might-have-been/](http://air-boyne.com/the-dornier-do-x-what-might-have-been/) ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/52 "2013-02-20T02:45:10Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > There’s a [PBY-5A Catalina](http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PBY-5A-CONSOLIDATED-VULTEE-SEAPLANE-SALE-/251231545780?pt=Motors_Aircraft&hash=item3a7e9129b4#ht_918wt_1182) on eBay right now. It’s a project plane that hasn’t flown since 2000. And it’s in Puerto Rico. OOOOHHH! I’ve always _wanted_ one of those! Let’s pool our money and _buy_it! I know someone we could stay with in San Juan (as long as you’re willing to sleep with the pigs)!!! I’ve got $12.82 of discretionary money in my pockets… errr… never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/53 "2013-02-20T03:09:40Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > If you paid no mind to their cost or their performance or their reliability, maybe. There’s a lot of temptation to romanticism in aviation history, but very little room for it. > [@](#): > > No, only three were built, and all were destroyed in the war. Only one made it even that far. Italy took delivery of two in the early 1930s, and only flew them a handful of times before the (probably deeply embarrassed) government sold them for scrap. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/54 "2013-02-20T04:14:56Z")
> [@butler1850](#): > > [Antilles Seaplanes](http://www.antillesseaplanes.com/) is taking orders for a new production Goose. > > If I hit the lottery for the big payout, an order for one goes in immediately, and I then begin flight lessons to work my way to certification to fly it. Then I begin flying around the hemisphere hunting & fishing. I want the [blue and yellow](http://www.antillesseaplanes.com/gallery/bluewaters1024.jpg) one. > [@Xema](#): > > Interesting registration ID on that one. It belongs to Richard. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/55 "2013-02-20T04:32:35Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > I want the [blue and yellow](http://www.antillesseaplanes.com/gallery/bluewaters1024.jpg) one. The one in the background? That looks like an original, with the radial engines. I’m a bit surprised how far forward the props are on the turboprop model. I imagine the engineering is sound, but it almost looks awkward compared to the old ones. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/56 "2013-02-20T04:38:49Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > The one in the background? That looks like an original, with the radial engines. > > I’m a bit surprised how far forward the props are on the turboprop model. I imagine the engineering is sound, but it almost looks awkward compared to the old ones. Can I paint the new one like the old one? Yeah, it looks like the entire engine is forward of the wing on the new model. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/57 "2013-02-20T06:21:47Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Can I paint the new one like the old one? Apparently, [yes](http://www.antillesseaplanes.com/gallery/large/6.jpg). (Actually, I’m not sure if that’s a new airframe or just a refurbed and modded old one. But it’ll be your plane, so paint it however you want.) > [@](#): > > Yeah, it looks like the entire engine is forward of the wing on the new model. I think the engine was probably always forward of the wing, but radials are short, stumpy things so they didn’t extend as far as the long, skinny turbines. The turbo and piston versions of the de Haviland Beaver are the same way. I’m trying to determine if the engines are moved closer inboard on the new Gooses, or if it’s just an illusion of the long nacelles and larger props. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/58 "2013-02-20T17:10:38Z")
Wasn’t there a British jet powered seaplane? Something like Saunders-Roe? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/59 "2013-02-20T18:31:25Z")
[Yep.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saunders-Roe_SR.A/1) [Here’s another approach](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_Sea_Dart) that should never have gotten that far, but hey, in the Cold War you could get funding for _anything_. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198/60 "2013-02-20T18:45:00Z")
Off-topic, but the greatest thing about float planes was that bush pilots were required to carry iron rations in case of emergency landings that would leave them stranded for prolonged periods. In response to this was developed [Sailor Boy Pilot Bread](http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/rural-alaskans-pilot-bread-soul-food), packing 90-calories per cracker! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aviation-types-flying-boats/582198.md?page=4)