The Flying Boat Forum from www.seawings.co.uk

What would YOU like to see on the SEAWINGS website?
The SEAWINGS flying boat archive, from which the main site up-dates are sourced, is vast and not everything can be up-loaded at once. So, if you are looking for any particular information, SEAWINGS may just have it in the archive and can up-load it during the next suitable up-date.

How To Up-Load Photographs To This Forum.
Read this locked posting to find out the easiest way to up-load photo's with your text postings.

Early Days to the end of World War One - 1918
From Curtiss through to the Felixstowe 'boats

Between the Wars - The 'Golden' Era - 1918 to 1939
From the Singapore and Southampton through to the Short Empire

World War II - 1939 to 1945
The Short Sunderland, Dornier Do-24, Kawanishi H8K 'Emily' and many more.

1945 - Post War up to Today's Modern Aviation
Martin Seamaster through to the Canadair CL-215 & 415 and the Shinmaiwa US-1.

W.I.G.'s (Wing-In-Ground-effect) Craft
Ekranoplans - the Lun Class, the A-90 Orlyonok, the 'Caspian Sea Monster', the civilian classes - indeed anything that can be naturally classed as a W.I.G. can be discussed here.

'What If's' - Flying Boat Might Have Beens, Prototypes, One-Off's and Proposals.
This is the forum for photo's, plans, drawings and all details of those flying boats that were discussed, proposed , planned and reached prototype stage, yet never - for whatever reason - went into series production.

Flying Boat Interiors
This is the place to post pictures, plans and documents of any flying boat interior or crew position to form an historical archive.

Flying Boat Engines
Information requests specifically on flying boat engines. This is the place to post photos, plans and documents to form an historical archive.

Flying Boat Weapons
Information requests specifically on flying boat guns, gun turrets, depth charges and rockets. This is the place to post photos, plans and documents to form an historical archive.

Flying Boat Fixtures and Fittings
Information requests on flying boat fixtures and fittings such as anything internally, radio's, galleys and anchors or Yagi Aerials and Radar fitted externally - anything that is not specifically a weapon as such. This is the place to post photos, plans and documents to form an historical archive.

Flying Boat Beaching Gear
Any details such as plans, drawings, photos - indeed any information would be very welcome here. This is the place to post photos, plans and documents to form an historical archive.

Shipborne Catapults
Please submit any and all details such as plans, drawings, photos - indeed any information would be very welcome here - concerning all the world's seaplane carrying naval ships.

Flying Boat Flight Manuals
This is the section for information concerning original Flight Manuals - preferably scans from the pages if you have them and can make them available.

Flying Boat Reference Books
This is the section for discussions on books - newly published, wanted, for sale, swop or just general discussion on a particular title.

Flying Boat Magazine Articles
This the section for swapping info on good magazine articles over the years: preferably scans, if you have them available.

Biographies
This section is for discussions on biographies relating to persons associated with flying boats. Original manuscripts, stories from surviving flight and ground crew, good books, in-fact anything about the people behind the craft.

Marine Craft used around Flying Boats
There are a host of marine craft, both military and civilian, that have been designed or converted to serve the needs of flying boats; tenders, refuellers, cargo craft to name a few. Here is the place to post photo's, plans & drawings, in-fact anything appertaining to these craft.

Consolidated Catalina Reference Archive
The source for references and discussion on all types & marques of this iconic WWII USN PBY flying boat: photos, plans, manual pages & documents.

Short S.25 Sunderland Reference Archive
The source for references and discussion on all types & marques of this iconic WWII RAF flying boat: photos, plans, manual pages & documents.

Grumman HU-16 Albatross Reference Archive
The source for references and discussion on all types & marques of this Grumman amphibian: photos, plans, manual pages & documents.

Grumman J2F Duck Reference Archive
The source for references and discussion on all types & marques of this Grumman amphibian: photos, plans, manual pages & documents.

Grumman G-21 Goose Reference Archive
The source for references and discussion on all types & marques of this Grumman amphibian: photos, plans, manual pages & documents.

Grumman G-73 Mallard Reference Archive
The source for references and discussion on all types & marques of this Grumman amphibian: photos, plans, manual pages & documents.

Grumman G-44 Widgeon Reference Archive
The source for references and discussion on all types & marques of this Grumman amphibian: photos, plans, manual pages & documents.

Colonial Skimmer and Lake LA-4 Reference Archive
The source for references and discussion on all types & marques of these two amphibians: photos, plans, manual pages & documents.

Short Bros. Reference Archive
This is the place to seek - or to post information about - the history of Short Bros, their staff and personnel from any era, or location. Use it to seek out contacts or to record and describe their (or your) exploits for posterity and particularly any factory or works photographs you may find to post.

Shorts Flying Boats Reference Archive
This is the place to discuss particular Shorts Flying Boat types and post documents, photographs and other relevant information appertaining to these craft.

General Discussion - Scale Model Plastic and Resin Kits
This section is for discussion about kits in all scales - 1/144th, 1/72nd, 1/48th, 1/32nd, 1/24th(!) etc

Model Kits - New Releases and Rumours
What's coming, what's out and what you have heard that's coming later...........

Model Kits, Spare Parts and Accessories - WANTED
The forum for all your Model Kit Wants - place your requests and wants here........

Model Kits, Spare Parts and Accessories - FOR SALE, SWOP or EXCHANGE
The forum for all your Model Kit Sales, Swops and Exchanges - Place your requests and disposals here.....

Die-Cast Metal - Ready Built Models - All Scales
This section is for information on, and discussion about, the fine examples of metal models from companies such as Corgi. Post here also if you have any to sell or want to buy.

Radio-Control Flying Boat Models
This is the place to discuss and ultimately show-off all aspects of constructing and actually flying your radio-control flying boat models. Pictures of construction, materials used, finishing and action shots of them flying, are very welcome.

Radio Control Model Clubs flying off of water around the World
This is the place for R/C Flying Clubs who specialise in flying water-bourne flying boats & seaplanes from lakes, ponds, rivers and even the sea, to advertise their presence to the Forum readers who might want to join them from their very own special page. Read the 'Sticky' within to see how to obtain your Club page.

Card & Paper Models
This sub-forum is for the dedicated card modellers: those that build scale models entirely from kits manufactured from printed sheets of cardboard - which are then cut out with knives and scissors and glued together. The results can be spectacular.

Solid Wood Carved Models
This sub-forum is for the dedicated solid wood modelers: this is the traditional 'older' method that existed prior to the plastic kit genre. Solid wood carving methods date back to World War One and in the hands of a skilled craftsman a superb model can result. It is the ultimate scratchbuild.

Flying Boat Bases - New and Old
Any photos, plans, drawings, directions, helpful hints on visting places where flying boats have been operated from historically, or are being operated from today. I am always interested in receiving 'Then & Now' type photographs to assist current day visitors to these place. I'm trying to record the best places to visit before they disappear for ever.

Flying Boat crews - Contacts and Requests
This is the place to seek - or to post information about - Flying Boat Squadron crew personnel, Civilian crew personnel or Ground personnel, from any era. Use it to seek out contacts or to record and describe their (or your) exploits for posterity and any crew photographs you may find to post.

Flying Boat Fly-In's, Airshow's, Meetings & Gatherings
Use this section for pictures of various flying boats and amphibians taken at this type of meeting. Also for announcements of forthcoming gatherings and reports on shows that flying boats attended.

Above Ground - Crashed
Use this sub-forum to post stories, images and anything else connected to, or explaining, flying boat wrecks located on the ground.

Under Water - Sunk
Use this sub-forum to post stories, images and anything else connected to, or explaining, flying boat wrecks under the sea. Especially welcome are images from those who dive upon wrecks around the world in a world most of us can never reach.

The place to have a general chat and share stuff..........
This is the place to ask for ideas such as finding a flying boat themed bar or club, share good places to find flying boat memorabilia, rate flying boat-related museums/movies/sims, and otherwise talk, well...... flying boats!! Obviously politics, swearing, rants, and trolling are right out. Anyone breaking this simple rule will be warned, then banned if repeated. Now, enjoy..!!

The 'Roy Tassell Memorial' Flying Boat Quiz - No prizes but a 'whole lotta fun'......!!

The Forum Members Photo Gallery (aka 'So that's what you look like'..!)!

Float Planes and Seaplanes ONLY - General Discussion
Use this section for Floatplane & Seaplane general discussion where it does not fit into the catagories below ONLY. You may post pictures, plans and requests for information on any type, past or present, here.

Float Planes and Seaplanes ONLY - Early Days to the end of WWI
Use this section for Floatplane & Seaplane discussion for the period and era shown ONLY. You may post pictures, plans and requests for information on any type, past or present, here.

Float Planes and Seaplanes ONLY - Between the Wars
Use this section for Floatplane & Seaplane discussion for the period and era shown ONLY. You may post pictures, plans and requests for information on any type, past or present, here.

Float Planes and Seaplanes ONLY - WWII
Use this section for Floatplane & Seaplane discussion for the period and era shown ONLY. You may post pictures, plans and requests for information on any type, past or present, here.

Float Planes and Seaplanes ONLY - Post WWII to the Modern Day
Use this section for Floatplane & Seaplane discussion for the period and era shown ONLY. You may post pictures, plans and requests for information on any type, past or present, here.

Flying Boat Restorations and Re-Builds
If YOU are restoring an existing flying boat, we would be pleased to see images and details of the progress you are making and to hear what it is like to undertake a job of this nature and complexity.

Flying Boat & Seaplane Owners Log - Show off YOUR flying boat here
This is the place to showcase YOUR pride and joy! You will know that 99.9% of us flying boat & seaplane enthusiasts will never get the chance to actually own the 'real thing', so that places you in a very enviable position ! Share with us the photo's and details of YOUR craft so that we can all enjoy it!

Flying Boat & Seaplane Commercial Operators
If YOU run a business that includes the use of flying boats and seaplanes, whether it's for tourisim or commercial gain, please let us share the photo's and details of your craft here.

Flying Boat Stars of the 'Silver Screen' - the 'boats in the movies
Flying boats have been featured in a large number of films/movies over the years. Here is the place to discuss those 'stars' and the films they were in, and where to find DVD's of them today for us all to enjoy. Bring your own popcorn....!

Flying Boats on the 'Small Screen' - the stars of the T.V. shows and series.
Flying Boats featured in a few T.V. series, particularly in the 1950's and '60's. Here is the place to find out all about them and share any information and screen shots you might have. Don't forget to tell us where we can find them today.

Artist Profiles of Flying Boats and Seaplanes
This section is specifically for the budding profile artists amongst you to share your latest works - and show the rest of us how it's done!

Flight Sims of Flying Boats
This section is specifically for the PC Flight Simmers amongst you to share your latest works - and request information for your next one.

Flying Boats featured on Postage Stamps
This section is dedicated to scans of the postage stamps from around the World that have featured images of flying boats over the years.

Mailed Envelopes
This section is for images of mailed envelopes that were flown on a particular flying boat along a route. Often eBay and the like have actual examples of mailed envelopes that were actually flown on flying boats for sale and they all have a story to tell. Tell us yours........

First Day Covers
This is the section for images of First Day Covers, most of which have usually been flown, featuring flying boats or flying boat related history.

PLEASE READ THESE RULES BEFORE COMMENCING BUY/SELL/SWOP/TRADE FIRST.....
Please read the rules posting here prior to commencing posting in any of these galleries. Thank you.

Post your WANTS item(s) here.....
Just WANTED items, nothing else please.

Post your FOR SALE item(s) here.....
Just FOR SALE items, nothing else please.

Post your SWOP or TRADE item(s) here.....
Post items you wish to SWOP or TRADE and what you are looking for in return, nothing else please.

Please place any Forum Suggestions or Comments here
If you can think of a new section that would be useful or have any constructive comments on this forum, please post them here.

Notifications from the Forum Administrator or Moderators
The Forum Administrator and Moderators need a place to post messages and notices so that all Forum Members can be kept informed. This is that place....