Hydroaeroplane

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A hydroaeroplane (also hydro-aeroplane) or seaplane is a hybrid airplane/boat; it can take off from water and alight on water. (It may or may not also be able to roll on land.)

Terminological distinctions

Based on our data it seems that hydro-aeroplane, seaplane, and perhaps also aero-hydroplane, are functionally synomous terms corresponding to the above definition. Hydro-aeroplane was the favored term in 1910–1914, with the bisyllabic seaplane creeping into greater use, especially popular use, from 1915 onward.

The terms hydro-aeroplane and aero-hydroplane are functionally close to seaplane and to each other, though perhaps indicating a difference in emphasis. It seems the term hydroplane by itself would more properly refer to a type of boat that skims on the water but can't actually fly in the air.

Subtypes

As defined in CPC B64C35/00 (Flying-boats; Seaplanes): "The word 'seaplane' is used to describe two types of air/water vehicles: the floatplane and the flying boat:

  • A floatplane has slender floats, mounted under the fuselage. Two floats are common, but other configurations are possible. Only the floats of a floatplane normally come into contact with water. The fuselage remains above water.
  • In a flying boat, the main source of buoyancy is the fuselage, which acts like a ship's hull in the water. Most flying boats have small floats mounted on their wings to keep them stable."

Technological development

The 1912 second edition of Jackman & Russell, 1910, Flying Machines (pp. 252–253) describes new developments in the nascent technology:

Aeroplanes have been constructed with floats in the place of runners and several attempts have been made, in some cases successfully, to light with them on and to rise from the water. Mr. Curtiss did this at San Francisco, in January, 1911. [...]
In November, 1911, a test was made at Newport, R. I., by Lieut. Rodgers, of the navy, of a "hydro-aeroplane" as an auxiliary to a battleship. The idea of the test was to alight alongside of the ship, hoist the machine aboard, put out to sea and launch the machine again with the use of a crane. Lieut. Rodgers came down smoothly alongside the Ohio, his machine was easily drawn aboard with a crane, and the Ohio steamed down to the open sea, where it was blowing half a gale. But, owing to the midjudgment of the ship's headway, one of the wings of the machine when it struck the water after being released from the crane, went under the water and was snapped off. Lieut. Rodgers was convinced that this method was too risky and that some other must be devised.

References



This wiki has 197 patents categorized in "hydro-aeroplane" or "hydroaeroplane" or "seaplane". Other techtypes related to hydro-aeroplane or hydroaeroplane or seaplane: Amerrissage, Hydrodynamics

Patents in categories hydro-aeroplane or hydroaeroplane or seaplane

Publications referring to hydro-aeroplane or hydroaeroplane or seaplane

Enclosing categories Airplane
Subcategories
Keywords Hydroplane, hydravion, floatplane, Flying boat, Marine, Float, Takeoff, Amerrissage, Launching
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