Model H

The Curtiss Model H was an early American flying boat that entered service during World War I and marked a turning point in maritime aviation. Developed by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company in 1914, the Model H evolved from the earlier Model F and featured a larger hull, twin‑engine configuration, and a more powerful 150‑hp (112 kW) Curtiss V‑X engine mounted in a pusher arrangement. Its wooden, fabric‑covered biplane wings gave a 70‑foot span and provided the lift needed for take‑off from water. The aircraft could carry a crew of two plus up to 350 lb of bombs or depth charges, making it one of the first operational bomber‑flying boats. The US Navy adopted the Model H for patrol, anti‑submarine, and training duties, and it also saw limited service with the British Royal Naval Air Service. Notably, the Model H became the platform for the first successful carrier landing when Lieutenant J. R. H. Brown alighted on the USS Langley in 1922. Its reliability and ease of maintenance paved the way for later Curtiss seaplanes such as the NC‑4, cementing its role as a foundational design in early naval aviation.