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Felixstowe F.1

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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

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]

Development

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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

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 United Kingdom

Specifications

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Front elevation, RNAS Felixstowe.

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

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Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Orbis 1985, p. 1775
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "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

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  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
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