Felixstowe Drawings

[hesham]

Hi,

here is some drawings to Felixstowe company.

 

[riggerrob]

Why did the early Curtiss and Felixstowe flying boats have planning surfaces twice the width of their fuselages?

 

[Schneiderman]

These machines date from the earliest days on multi-engine flying boats and had to evolve through a process of trial and error from Curtiss' original 'Atlantic' in 1914. That had proven unstable so the planning surfaces were progressively widened on subsequent models for buoyancy and stability. Curtiss/Felixstowe designs came in for much criticism post-WW1, especially from marine architects who deplored the crude construction. However, even with improved construction design and the advent of water tank testing of models planning surfaces wider than the hull were pretty much the norm for larger craft until the early 1930s. The notable exceptions were the Dornier family, which all utilised sponsons.

 

[riggerrob]

Thanks dear Schneiderman,
We cannot fault Glenn Curtiss for designing his flying boats by iteration.

Fast forward to the end of the 20th century, some small kitplane flying boats added small sponsons to improve hydrodynamic planning (Taylor Coot and Glass Goose).

 

[Schneiderman]

Thanks dear Schneiderman,
We cannot fault Glenn Curtiss for designing his flying boats by iteration.

Fast forward to the end of the 20th century, some small kitplane flying boats added small sponsons to improve hydrodynamic planning (Taylor Coot and Glass Goose).

Indeed, it was the only effective way to work back then, especially in the middle of a war. Curtiss and Rennie did a reasonable job with the resources they had available.

 

[hesham]

Indeed, it was the only effective way to work back then, especially in the middle of a war. Curtiss and Rennie did a reasonable job with the resources they had available.

You are right my dear Schneiderman,

the source; The Fighting America Flying Boats of WWI Vol.1

 

[Schneiderman]

Here are the Felixstowe 'family'

 

[Schneiderman]

...........Curtiss and Rennie did a reasonable job with the resources they had available.

My mistake, I meant to say Porte, Rennie was his deputy of course