Seaplane Collection

Supermarine aeroplane, Rolls-Royce S. 6
The Supermarine aeroplane, Rolls-Royce S.6, winner of the International Schneider Trophy Air Race in 1922, 1927 and 1929, and holder of the world speed record of 357.7 mph

WW2 - British RAF Flying Boat Sunderland Date: circa 1940

Short Sunderland flying boat in flight
Short Sunderland flying boat NSZ in flight. Date: circa 1940s

A Sunderland Flying Boat spreads its wings over the Pembrokeshire village of Neyland as it comes in to land at RAF Pembroke Dock Seaplane and Flying Boat Station

HMS Achilles, British light cruiser, WW2
HMS Achilles (70), British light class cruiser which served with the Royal New Zealand Navy during the Second World War. Seen here with a seaplane on board. Date: 1939

Aeroplane with kayaks
Photographer: Stephenson, Alfred (1908-1999). Expedition: British Arctic Air Route Expedition 1930-31. Leader: Henry George (Gino) Watkins. Date: 1930

Short Sunderland flying boat, WW2
Short Sunderland flying boat RBO, seen here being towed up a jetty. Date: circa 1940s

Moth aeroplane - Angmagssalik
Photographer: Cozens, Henry Iliffe (1904-1995). Expedition: British Arctic Air Route Expedition 1930-31. Leader: Henry George (Gino) Watkins. Date: 1930

Towing moth with outboard motor
Photographer: Cozens, Henry Iliffe (1904-1995). Expedition: British Arctic Air Route Expedition 1930-31. Leader: Henry George (Gino) Watkins. Date: 1930

Cutaway view of a Pan-American Clipper. Boeing 314, c1940
PAN AM CLIPPER, 1940. Cutaway view of a Pan-American Clipper. Boeing 314, c1940

Sunderland plane, Imperial Airways, Funchal, Madeira
Short S25 Sunderland plane (flying boat patrol bomber), belonging to Imperial Airways, seen here off Funchal, Madeira. Date: 1937-1959

Aeroplane on ice - fitted with skis - Base
Photographer: Cozens, Henry Iliffe (1904-1995). Expedition: British Arctic Air Route Expedition 1930-31. Leader: Henry George (Gino) Watkins. Date: 1930

PBY Catalina vintage flying boat
Consolidated PBY Catalina vintage flying boat in U.S. Army Air Force naval rescue colors

A striking picture of Cataline flying boat taking off on the 24-hour patrol over the Atlantic. They perform splendidly, searching for U-boats and guarding Atlantic convoys

Cabral and Coutinho fly from Portugal to Brazil
Gabo Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral - Portuguese aviators who flew from Lisbon, Portugal to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1922 in a Fairey IIIB Float plane- the first time this feat was achieved

Coastal view of Funchal, Madeira with seaplane taking off
Coastal view of Funchal, Madeira, Portugal with seaplane taking off on the regular mainland service. Date: circa 1940s

Towing Moth with outboard motorboat - Base
Photographer: Cozens, Henry Iliffe (1904-1995). Expedition: British Arctic Air Route Expedition 1930-31. Leader: Henry George (Gino) Watkins. Date: 1930

Fairey Swordfish I / 1 Floatplane
Royal Navy Fairey Swordfish of 810 Nas Squadron of Hms Courageous - Here Taxiing Past Battlecruiser Hms Hood (Later Sunk by the Bismarck) and Destroyer Hms Rocket (Behind) Date: 1940s

Supermarine Walrus
A Search & Rescue Supermarine Walrus Picking Up a Downed and Stranded Pilot in a Rubber Life-Raft Dinghy in the Sea Date: 1940s

The Short-Mayo Composite Aircraft, c1937 (c1937). The Short Mayo Composite was a long-range seaplane combination produced by Short Brothers to provide a reliable long-range air transport service to

The Schneider Trophy 1931 - Calshot Spit, England
Souvenir Programme for the Schneider Trophy of 1929 held at Calshot Spit, England. The Coupe d Aviation Maritime Jacques Schneider (commonly called the Schneider Trophy or Schneider Prize)

Fairey Campania two-seat seaplane
Fairey Campania two-seat carrier-borne reconnaissance or coastal patroller seaplane, which entered production in early 1917. It was mounted on a wheeled trolley for takeoff from a ships flight deck

Short Sunderland flying boat on water
Short Sunderland flying boat moored on water with a town in the background. Date: circa 1940s

Departure of Junkers from Base
Photographer: Cozens, Henry Iliffe (1904-1995). Expedition: British Arctic Air Route Expedition 1930-31. Leader: Henry George (Gino) Watkins. Date: 1930

Moth aeroplane on West beach - Base
Photographer: Cozens, Henry Iliffe (1904-1995). Expedition: British Arctic Air Route Expedition 1930-31. Leader: Henry George (Gino) Watkins. Date: 1930

Macchi M. c. 72 Was An Experimental Seaplane Designed And Built By The Italian Aircraft Company Macchi Aeronautica
Macchi M.c. 72 Was An Experimental Seaplane Designed And Built By The Italian Aircraft Company Macchi Aeronautica. Italy 1937

Boeing 314 Clipper
Pan American Airways System Paa, Boeing 314 Clipper Fleet Number 18 Flying Date: 1939

Short Sunderland flying boat, RAF Wig Bay, WW2
RAF Short Sunderland flying boat B9604/RBJ, in service with RaF (Royal Australian Air Force) 10th Squadron. Seen here on water at RAF Wig Bay, Stranraer, Scotland, 11 June 1942. Date: 1942

Macchi Varese
circa 1928: A record breaking plane, the Italian Macchi Varese Type 52 seaplane which won the 1926 Schneider Cup. It has a 12 cylinder A93 engine capable of 512 kilometres per hour

Fairey Flycatcher amphibians
Fleet Air Arm Fairey Flycatcher amphibians at a seaplane base in the far east. Date: circa 1925

The Consolidated Catalina, 1941. Creator: Unknown
The Consolidated Catalina, 1941. The Consolidated PBY Catalina, American flying boat and amphibious aircraft built by Consolidated Aircraft

Curtiss CR-3
Curtiss Cr-3 Number 4 Parked at the 1923 Schneider Trophy Air Race at Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK Date: 1923

Moth taking off on floats - Base
Photographer: Cozens, Henry Iliffe (1904-1995). Expedition: British Arctic Air Route Expedition 1930-31. Leader: Henry George (Gino) Watkins. Date: 1930

North America, United States, Alaska, Ketchikan. Flightseeing over the Misty Fjords National Monument. Spring pollen streaks the water of the Fjords

The Schneider Trophy 1929 - Calshot Spit, England
Photograph from the Schneider Trophy of 1929 held at Calshot Spit, England. The Coupe d Aviation Maritime Jacques Schneider (commonly called the Schneider Trophy or Schneider Prize)

Poster, Norway by Airway. 20th century

Saunders Roe SR A1 fighter flying boat
Saunders Roe SR A1, an experimental fighter flying boat, in flight. Date: 1947-1951

The Schneider Trophy 1927 - Venice, Italy
Photograph from the Schneider Trophy of 1927 held at Venice, Italy. The Coupe d Aviation Maritime Jacques Schneider (commonly called the Schneider Trophy or Schneider Prize)

Schneider contest nerve centre by G. H. Davis
The Schneider contest nerve centre: timing at over 300 mph. How the amazing speeds of the seaplanes were recorded: the timekeepers and their work on Ryde Pier. Date: 1929

Fokker CVII-W advanced training seaplane of the Royal Dutch Naval Air Force. 1928. Date: 1928

British seaplane being launched from a warship during World War I. Photograph, c1916
WORLD WAR I: SEAPLANE. British seaplane being launched from a warship during World War I. Photograph, c1916

Parnall Hamble Baby seaplane, N1973

The Sopwith Tabloid seaplane at Monaco, 20 April 1914, when it won the Schneider Trophy contest flown by Howard Pixton. Date: 1914

Types of Aeroplane: "Fairy III F" Sea Plane (colour litho)
8657086 Types of Aeroplane: "Fairy III F" Sea Plane (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: "Fairy III F" Sea Plane)

This Mechanized Age, 1937: Amphibian Flying Boat (colour litho)
8657520 This Mechanized Age, 1937: Amphibian Flying Boat (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Amphibian Flying Boat)

France, Pays de la Loire, Vendee (85), Les Sables-d'Olonnes: a canonier passes by an FBA or CAMS seaplane in
LUX4785574 France, Pays de la Loire, Vendee (85), Les Sables-d'Olonnes: a canonier passes by an FBA or CAMS seaplane in the port, 1918 - canonier: V36; (add.info.: France, Pays de la Loire)

France, Pays de la Loire, Vendee (85), Les Sables-d'Olonnes: an FBA or CAMS seaplane with its pilot poses
LUX4785554 France, Pays de la Loire, Vendee (85), Les Sables-d'Olonnes: an FBA or CAMS seaplane with its pilot poses on the water off the beach of Les Sables, 1918; (add.info.: France)

A British Hydroplane during World War One, from The History of the Great War, pub.c. 1919
3502806 A British Hydroplane during World War One, from The History of the Great War, pub.c. 1919; (add.info.: A British Hydroplane during World War One, from The History of the Great War, pub.c)

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"From Supermarine to Short: A Journey through Seaplanes in History" Take flight with the iconic seaplane, a marvel of engineering that has captivated aviation enthusiasts for decades. Starting with the Supermarine aeroplane and its groundbreaking Rolls-Royce S. 6 engine, we delve into the rich history of these magnificent flying machines. During World War II, the British RAF Flying Boat Sunderland played a vital role in maritime operations. The sight of a majestic Short Sunderland flying boat soaring through the skies was awe-inspiring, as it spread its wings over the picturesque Pembrokeshire village of Neyland. Not limited to combat missions alone, seaplanes also showcased their versatility. Picture an aeroplane equipped with kayaks - an ingenious adaptation that allowed pilots to navigate even the most treacherous waters. The Moth aeroplane took on daring adventures in Angmagssalik, showcasing its agility and resilience amidst challenging terrains. Meanwhile, cutaway views of Pan-American Clipper Boeing 314 transport us back to c1940 when long-distance air travel became a reality. Seaplanes were not confined to traditional runways; they embraced unconventional landing surfaces too. Witness an aeroplane fitted with skis gracefully gliding across icy landscapes at Base - truly defying gravity and pushing boundaries. One cannot forget the legendary PBY Catalina vintage flying boat that patrolled tirelessly over vast stretches of ocean during World War II. Its striking image taking off on a 24-hour patrol over the Atlantic serves as a reminder of bravery and dedication. Intriguingly versatile and undeniably captivating, seaplanes have left an indelible mark on aviation history. From wartime heroes like HMS Achilles to breathtaking aerial displays above serene coastal villages – these remarkable aircraft continue to inspire awe wherever they take flight.