CAMS 38

The CAMS 38 was a French amphibious flying boat produced in the late 1920s by the shipyard‑turned‑aircraft builder Chantiers Aéro‑Maritimes de la Seine (CAMS). Designed to meet the growing demand for versatile naval reconnaissance and coastal transport, the type first flew in March 1928 and entered limited service with the French Navy in 1929. Its wooden hull featured a stepped underside to reduce water resistance, while a high‑mounted cantilever wing provided a clear field of view for the crew. Powered by a single 350 hp Lorraine‑Dietrich 12Eb V‑12 engine mounted in a pusher configuration, the CAMS 38 could reach 200 km/h and carry a pilot, observer and up to 300 kg of payload, including light armament or mail. The aircraft’s retractable twin‑float undercarriage allowed it to operate from both water and conventional airfields, a rare capability at the time. Although only a handful were built, the CAMS 38 demonstrated the practicality of amphibious designs and influenced later French flying boats such as the CAMS 37 series. Its mixed‑construction techniques and dual‑mode operation marked an important step in the evolution of maritime aviation during the interwar period.