| Relive the golden age of the flying boat – part airplane, part sea vessel – in this comprehensive, three-disc set that recalls the colorful history and possible future of aviation's most peculiar creation. Now nearly extinct, these seemingly too-big-to-fly wonders pushed the limits of technology during the first half of our century. Though traditional aircraft ultimately ended their reign, these magnificent machines inspire memories of adventure unmatched by any land plane. Discover how these hybrids conquered the oceans, served both sides during WWII and live on today as specialized firefighters. On the Step
In 1913, aviation pioneer Glenn Curtiss became the first to develop the flying boat. From the start, these large seaplanes surpassed land planes in both size and range. By 1920, they had become the first airliners, the first American aircraft to engage in combat and the first to conquer the Atlantic Ocean by air. The Great Clippers
Learn how Pan American Airways' giant Clipper flying boats established the world's first air service across two oceans and offered passengers the ultimate in modern transportation. Names like "China Clipper" still evoke memories of romance and nostalgia unmatched by any land plane. The War Boats
From twin-engine patrol planes to six-engine bombers, flying boats offered versatility and mobility to combatants on both sides of World War II. Without these dependable work horses, the Allied forces might have lost the battle of the Atlantic…as well as the Pacific island-hopping campaign. The Giants
Just when post-war aviation had forsaken the large flying boat, three of the biggest ones ever built would make their debut. Howard Hughes' "Spruce Goose" and the British Princess were unfortunately doomed from the start, but the Martin "Mars" is still flying today as a converted water bomber used to fight forest fires. The End of an Era
By the 1950s, flying boat operations in the United States Navy were in decline. Ironically, Navy planners began developing radical new designs including the jet-powered "Seamaster" and the supersonic "Sea Dart." In the end, however, these water-based aircraft could not compete with the obvious efficiency of traditional land planes. The Final Frontier
Today, only Japan, Canada and Russia still produce large flying boats. Designed for special utility and military applications, these modern seaplanes have kept up with t |
