Curtiss Model F

The Curtiss Model F was an early American flying boat developed by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company in the 1910s. First flown in 1912, the Model F was a biplane with a wooden hull and fabric‑covered wings, powered by a 75‑hp Curtiss V‑8 engine mounted between the wings and driving a pusher propeller. Its side‑by‑side open cockpit accommodated a pilot and a passenger or observer, and the hull featured a single step that helped it lift off from water. The aircraft proved versatile, serving both civilian and military roles: it was used for passenger transport on the Great Lakes, for mail‑carrying experiments, and as a trainer for the United States Navy, which designated it the AB‑2. The Model F’s successful water‑landing capabilities demonstrated the practicality of seaplanes, influencing later designs such as the Curtiss Model H and the massive trans‑Atlantic flying boats of the 1930s. Although only a few dozen were built, the Model F marked a pivotal step in the evolution of amphibious aviation, showcasing Curtiss’s innovative hull construction and establishing a foundation for future naval air power.

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