Top 5 Passenger Flying Boats That Revolutionized Aviation

Unlike floatplanes, flying boats are fixed-wing aircraft with a hull that allows them to move on water.
Famous passenger flying boats include the Dornier Doe X, the Short Sunderland, the Boeing Model 314 Clipper, the Empire Flying Boat, and the Sikorsky S-42.
Originally intended to serve as a strategic airlift flying boat, the Hughes Hercules, popularly known as the “Spruce Goose”, was never converted to a passenger aircraft.

Flying boats are mostly confined to the past and have a special place in the history of passenger aviation. Here is a list of the five most important and recognizable passenger flying boats ever made.

What is a flying boats?

Before looking at our list of the most famous flying boats ever built, it’s helpful to define a‘flying boat’ Over time, the phrase “flying boat” was misinterpreted. In fact, it is frequently used with phrases like “floatplane” or “seaplane”.

According to established definitions, a flying boat is a fixed-wing aircraft constructed and planned to carry a hull, much like a sailing vessel. A flying boat can operate on water because of its hull-shaped fuselage. Retractable landing gear is sometimes attached to flying boats so that they can operate on land.

The most important difference between floatplanes and flying boats is that the latter have a fuselage specifically designed to float, much like a boat.

Floatplanes, however, tend to be designed to be land-based aircraft that have been retrofitted with fuselage-mounted floats for buoyancy to operate off the water. The fuselage/belly of a floatplane is not intended to touch the water.

The last is the phrase “seaplane,” which is a bit more ambiguous. All aircraft that can take off and land on water are usually referred to by name, including the two types mentioned above. But purists will tell you that flying boats definitely qualify as seaplanes (mostly if they are limited to water operations), not floatplanes (since they were originally intended for land operations).

However, many floatplanes are used in marine environments, although they are often classified as not truly seaplanes due to their modified floats. An example is the Maldivian Air Taxi de Havilland Twin Otter fleet, which is based at Male International Airport (MLE) in the Maldives and is known as Seaplane Base.

Now we have cleared that all up, let Simple Flying guide you through the most iconic and influential passenger-carrying flying boats ever produced.

Dornier Do X

When the German-built Dornier Do X first took to the skies in July 1929, it was the largest aircraft ever built. The plane was designed to comfortably transport 100 passengers across the Atlantic.

The Do X was supported by the German Ministry of Transport to fulfill the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, which stopped World War I and prohibited Germany from building any more aircraft after the war that exceeded certain speed and range limits. On the Swiss side of Lake Constance, a specially designed plant was built.

Powered by six tandem pairs of Siemens Jupiter engines, this huge flying boat had sleeping quarters, a lounge, smoking area, restrooms and more.Dining area and kitchen spread over three decks. On the flight deck were two pilots (including relief), a navigator and a radio operator.

But the Siemens engines did not provide enough power, and American-made Curtiss Conqueror engines replaced them. Despite being popular with the general public and operating frequently on Atlantic routes until the outbreak of World War II, fewer than three aircraft were produced due to lack of commercial interest and several non-fatal accidents.

Subsequently, the actual Dornier Do X was stored in Berlin, but was lost when Allied bombers destroyed the Berlin Museum during the conflict. Two more copies were made, although they were only used in experiments before they were discarded.

Short Sunderland (and derivatives)

Belfast, Northern Ireland-based Short Brothers created the Sunderland in response to a request by the UK Air Ministry for a long-range reconnaissance flight. 90 prototypes, known as the Sunderland Mk1, were built after its first flight in October 1937. 43 Mk2 Sunderlands were produced, before the last variation (Mk3) ended production with 456 produced.

Despite providing excellent support to the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, the Sunderland fleet was withdrawn near the end of the conflict, with some of its aircraft being taken up for employment in commercial and civilian capacities. BOAC began using Sunderlands in March 1943 on the longest tours across the British Empire (as it then existed), eventually employing 24 types. After renovation with a more passenger-friendly cabin, the aircraft was renamed the Short Sandringham.

Eventually, some thirty Sandringhams were built, serving not only BOAC but Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Uruguay and beyond. After the termination of flying boat operations by BOAC in November 1950, the fleet of Sandringhams was distributed to various operators around the world, some of them in the Caribbean.

Boeing Model 314 Clipper

Twelve Model 314 Clippers were built, and they are probably the best passenger flying boats used in regular airline service. Growing demand for transatlantic air travel in the 1930s led to the development of the Boeing Model 314. In July 1936, The Boeing Company signed a contract with the famous American airline Pan American Airways for the first six Model 314 Clippers.

The ship needed larger aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean to Europe to replace the smaller flying boats, the Sikorsky S-42 and the Martin M-130. The first Model 314 landed in June 1939 and entered regular passenger service the same month. Each Model 314 can accommodate up to 74 people in its four separate cabins.

Satisfied with the first six aircraft, Pan American placed an additional order for six more aircraft to expand its global flying boat network. Nevertheless, before BOAC could begin its transatlantic flying boat service, three of them were sold.

Some Pan Am Clippers were captured by the US military and operated by Pan Am crews during World War II. In 1946, both BOAC and Pan Am ceased service of the Model 314. The remaining examples were eventually scrapped after being sold to several US-based charter airlines.

Empire Flying Boat

Like the Short Sunderland maritime patrol bomber (see below), the Empire Flying Boat was also built by Short Brothers and was a medium-range, four-engined flying boat designed and developed in the 1930s. Imperial Airways continues to grow in the long-haul commercial aviation sector, with a particular emphasis on its utility on major routes in the UK.

The development of the Short Empire was heavily influenced by customer launch Imperial Airways (late BOAC), and other airlines such as Australia’s Qantas and Tasman Empire Airways would also operate the type for commercial services.

When Empire first entered service, it often operated flights between Australia and the British mainland. He also served many British colonies in Asia and Africa. Usually, they were responsible for the transportation of mail, passengers and various other goods. Commercial transport was also provided by empires on certain routes such as Bermuda to New York.

During World War II, the empire was also given military duty. The Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Royal Air Force used this type for various military duties.

Sikorsky S-42

To cross the Atlantic, the Pan American Specification for Long-Range Flying Boats requires that the aircraft be capable of transporting four crew members and at least twelve passengers over a distance of 2,500 miles (4,023 km). Business and Sikorsky signed a contract in November 1932 for the S-42 flying boat.

Pan American took delivery of its first aircraft in August 1934 and began regular service from Miami to Rio de Janeiro that same month. The airline also called its S-42 fleet the “Flying Clipper” and the “Pan Am Clipper”.

From the United States West Coast to Manila, Philippines, and finally, the S-42 established the first Pan American route over the Pacific Ocean. The Pan American S-42 entered ultra-long-haul service in 1937.to New Zealand.

Pan American was the sole customer for the S-42. Ten examples were built, and all Sikorsky S-42s were either scrapped or destroyed in accidents.

Special mention – Hughes Hercules

Although it is outside the scope of this article to talk about the passenger flying boats that revolutionized long-distance passenger transport, the Hughes Hercules, also known as the “Spruce Swan”, deserves recognition. The Hughes H-4 Hercules was produced by the Hughes Aircraft Company, which was eventually controlled by aviation magnate and airline mogul Howard Hughes. The aircraft made its maiden flight on November 2, 1941.

The Spruce Goose was built as a strategic airlift flying boat during World War II. But being a millionaire in the aviation industry, Hughes intended to create a passenger version after the war.

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