Flyingboats were among the largest aircraft of the first half of the 20th century.
The military value of flyingboats was quickly recognized, and they were utilized by various nations in tasks from anti-submarine patrol to maritime search and rescue.
The largest flyingboat of the war was the Blohm und Voss Bv 238 which was also the heaviest plane to fly during the Second World War.
The flying surfaces on biplanes added strength to the structure and provided extra lift to compensate for comparatively small engines, while seaplanes were favored for the unlimited space water provided for long take-off runs.
Seaplanes and amphibians are photographed in their wartime roles, and as peacetime rescue vessels.
Beginning with races that were staged at elegant French resorts in the early part of the century, flyingboats and seaplanes have played an integral part in aviation history.
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