The Flying Boat Forum from www.seawings.co.uk

[traceyr]

Wikipedia has the following statement in the "Flying boat" article:
"In 1913, the boat building firm J. Samuel White of West Cowes on the Isle of Wight, set up a new aircraft division and produced a flying boat. This was displayed at the London Air Show at Olympia in 1913."
The source is given as "Flying Boats of the Solent" by Norman Hull, ISBN 1-85794-161-6 (no page reference).

Since this must have been one of the first flying boats ever, I would be interested to hear more about it. Also about the amphibious Saunders/Sopwith "Bat Boat" of the same year. Surely it must have been the first ever amphibian. Any more info/sources?

Thanks.

[nortoi]

I won't get into the who did what first debate, but if you go to http://daveg4otu.tripod.com/iowweb/jsw.html
you can see some of the history of J. Samuel White & co, together with a picture of the Samuel White Navyplane, a "high-powered hydro-biplane" first shown in 1913.
_________________
Alex Norton

[TASSE]

Hi Traceyr
I have just combed through "THE WHITE AIRCRAFT" by Michael H Goodall
(Gentry Books ) ISBN 0 85614 024 4. and there is no mention of a flying-boat built by the above company. Perhaps Wiki meant seaplane as there first product was the Wight No 1 seaplane which was exhibited in an incomplete state at the 1913 Olympia show.

There were flying-boats before 1913.

Hope this is of some help.

Cheers TASSE.

[TASSE]

Just to add to the confusion, a lot of so called historians dont know the difference between a flying-boat & a seaplane. They were defined by Winston Churchil when he was First Lord of The Admiralty during the first world war. A seaplane is an otherwise standard aircraft but on floats, while a flying-boat is an aircraft that uses its belly (hull) to sit on the water.

J Samuel White used the name of Wight for there company simply because it was based on the Isle of Wight.

Cheers TASSE.

[TASSE]

With regard to your other request, yes the Sopwith Bat Boat is listed as the first amphibian although i have my doubts about this as there were German amphibs around this time but i have not cross checked the dates yet.
The Bat Boat 1 had its hull built by Saunders of Cowes,the remainder being built by Sopwith & it was exhibited at the 1913 Olympia show.
For further ref see Sopwith Aircraft 1912-1920. by H.F.King (Putnam).ISBN 0 370 30050 5. For drawings see <www.roytassell.com>.

Some time ago i sent Bryan R. a photo of the Bat Boat 1. Perhaps Bryan you would kindly show us as my scanner is bust.

Cheers TASSE.

[TASSE]

Ureka
Acording to AEROMARINE ORIGINS by H F King (Putnam) ISBN n/a.
the first successful amphibian was the French Voisin canard in which Maurice Colliex took off ,in 1911,from Issy aerodrome and alighted on the Seine And made the return trip, This was a floatplane.

Q.E.D.

Cheers TASSE.

[traceyr]

There are several leads to follow up, then! Thanks to all.

[TASSE]

Hi Traceyr
Here is another ref for you:- Aeroplane Monthly for Aug,Sept, & October 1991.
If you want old aviation books or mags then Brian Cocks is your man.
e-mail <brianc@uku.co.uk> WEB <www.aviationbookhouse.co.uk>

Cheers TASSE.