Seaplane

Article By:

Hoffman, Richard A. Martin Marietta Company, Denver, Colorado.

Last reviewed:June 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.611200

An airplane capable of navigating on, taking off from, and alighting upon the surface of water. Seaplanes are grouped into two main types: flying boats and float planes. In the flying boat, the hull, which provides buoyancy and planing area, is an integral part of the airframe, a specially designed fuselage which supports the wings and tail surfaces and houses the crew, equipment, and cargo. Although multihull flying boats have been built, modern use is confined to single-hull boats with lateral stability on the water provided by small floats or pontoons attached to the wings (Fig. 1). The float plane is a standard landplane made capable of water operation by the addition of floats which are attached to the airframe by struts. In practice the twin float is used exclusively, lateral stability on the water being provided by the separation of the two identical floats (Fig. 2). A seaplane with retracting wheels which permit either land or water operation is known as an amphibian. See also: Airframe; Fuselage

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