Summary
The Felixstowe F.1 was a British experimental flying boat designed and developed by Lieutenant Commander John Cyril Porte RN at the naval air station, Felixstowe based on the Curtiss H-4 with a new hull.[2] Its design led to a range of successful larger flying boats that was assistance in promoting Britain as a leader in this field of aviation.[1]
| Felixstowe F.1 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Prototype Felixstowe F.1 (No.3580) | |
| Role | Military flying boat |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | RNAS Felixstowe |
| Designer | John Cyril Porte |
| Retired | January 1919[1] |
| Primary users | Royal Naval Air Service Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 4 |
| Developed from | Curtiss H-4 |
| Variants | Felixstowe F.2 |
Development edit
Before the war Porte worked with American aircraft designer Glenn Curtiss on a trans-atlantic flying boat. Due to the start of the Great War he returned to England, eventually to command of the naval air station at Felixstowe, Suffolk.[2] Porte decided that the original Curtiss flying-boats that the Royal Navy acquired could be improved and a number of modifications to in-service flying-boats were made.[2] The modifications had a mixed result so Porte using the experience gained, developed with his Chief Technical Officer John Douglas Rennie,[1] a new single-step hull known as the Porte I.[2]
The Porte I hull used the wings and tail unit of an original H-4 (No.3580) powered by two Hispano-Suiza 8 engines; the new flying boat was designated the Felixstowe F.1.[1][2] During trials of the F.1 two further steps were added to the hull and a deeper V-shape which greatly improved the performance on takeoff and landing.[1][2] Porte went on to design a similar hull, the Porte II for the larger Curtiss H-12 flying boat, which became the Felixstowe F.2.[2][3]
Operators edit
Specifications edit
Data from [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 4
- Length: 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)
- Upper wingspan: 72 ft (22 m)
- Wing area: 842 sq ft (78.2 m2)
- Powerplant: 2 × Hispano-Suiza 8 water-cooled V8, 150 hp (110 kW) each
See also edit
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
References edit
Notes edit
- ^ a b c d e f g Chorlton, Martyn, ed. (2012). Aeroplane Collectors' Archive: Golden Age of Flying-boats. Kelsey Publishing Group, Cudham, Kent. p. 23. ISBN 978-1-907426-71-1.
- ^ a b c d e f g Orbis 1985, p. 1775
- ^ Rennie, Major John Douglas (1923). Pritchard, J. Laurence (ed.). "Some Notes on The Design, Construction and Operation of Flying Boats". The Journal of the Royal Aeronautical Society. XXVII. University of Toronto: Royal Aeronautical Society: 136–137. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- ^ "British Anzani - a company history". The British Anzani Archive. British Anzani Archive. 2000. p. 1. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
Bibliography edit
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
External links edit
- Sons of Our Empire: Film of the Royal Naval Air Service at Felixstowe, including a Curtiss Model H-2 and prototype Felixstowe F.1 (No. 3580) fitted with Anzani engines, Porte and Commodore of Harwich, George C. Cayley RN returning from a flight in a Felixstowe F.1, about August 1916.
- "The Felixstowe Flying-Boats - part 1" a 1955 Flight article
- "The Felixstowe Flying-Boats - part 2" a 1955 Flight article
- "F-Boats - A Postscript by an Ex-pilot" a 1956 Flight article on the Felixstowe flying boats
- Felixstowe Flying-Boats