Felixstowe F5L

Felixstowe F5L
Curtiss F.5L Patrol plane at Pensacola Naval Air Station
Role	Military flying boat
Manufacturer	Naval Aircraft Factory (137) Curtiss Aircraft (60) and Canadian Aeroplanes Limited (30)
Designer	J C Porte
First flight	1918
Introduction	1918
Primary users	US Navy Aeromarine Plane and Motor Company (Aeromarine 75)
Number built	227
Developed from	Felixstowe F.5

The twin-engine F5L was one of the Felixstowe F series of flying boats extensively redesigned by John Cyril Porte at the Seaplane Experimental Station, Felixstowe, England during the First World War, from an original design by the American designer Glenn Curtiss.

Design and development

The Naval Aircraft Factory further redesigned the Felixstowe F.5 for American production with numerous modifications made, including fitting 400 hp Liberty 12A engines. The American-built version was also known as the Curtiss F5L and (in civilian operation) as the Aeromarine 75.

The F5L was built by the US Naval Aircraft Factory (137) , Curtiss (60) and Canadian Aeroplanes Limited (30). Some were converted for civilian use by the Aeromarine Plane and Motor Company in 1919.

Operational history

The F5L entered USN service at the end of the war and was the US Navy’s standard patrol aircraft until 1928, when it was replaced by the PN-12. In civil service, named the Aeromarine 75, the Felixstowe F5L could accommodate 10 passengers and was operated by Aeromarine Airways on flights from Key West to Havana, carrying the first US Post Office international air mail on flights from New York City to Atlantic City, and from Cleveland to Detroit.

F5L turning in for a raid

Aeromarine 75 on regular flights in the Caribbean.

Operators

 Argentina

• Argentine Naval Aviation

 United States

• Aeromarine Airways
• United States Navy

Survivors

Both a hull and float from a US Navy F5L have been preserved at the National Air and Space Museum (Smithsonian). The hull is only partially skinned with wood to reveal structure. Both artifacts are presently in storage and not available for public display.^[1][2]

Specifications

Data from Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Capacity: 12-14 passengers
• Length: 49 ft 4 in (15.04 m)
• Wingspan: 103 ft (31.62 m)
• Height: 18 ft 9 in (5.72 m)
• Wing area: 1,397 sq. ft (129.8 m²)
• Empty weight: 8,720 lb (3,955 kg)
• Loaded weight: 14,334 lb (6,508 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Liberty 12A, 400 hp (kW) each

Performance

• Range: 830 mi (1335 km)

Armament

• Patrol only

See also

Related development

Felixstowe F.2a
Naval Aircraft Factory PN

References

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} "Felixstowe (NAF) F-5-L (hull only)." Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Smithsonian). Retrieved: 4 February 2011.
2. ^ "Float, Felixstowe F5L." Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Smithsonian). Retrieved: 4 February 2011.

Bibliography

• Bruce, J.M. "The Felixstowe Flying-Boats: Historic Military Aircraft No. 11 Part 1". Flight, 2 December 1955, pp. 842—846.
• Bruce, J.M. "The Felixstowe Flying-Boats: Historic Military Aircraft No. 11 Part 2". Flight, 16 December 1955, pp. 895—898.
• Bruce, J.M. "The Felixstowe Flying-Boats: Historic Military Aircraft No. 11 Part 3". Flight, 23 December 1955, pp. 929—932.
• Donald, David and Jon Lake, eds. Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. London: AIRtime Publishing, 1996. ISBN 1-880588-24-2.
• Taylor, Michael J.H., ed. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, Ltd., 1989. ISBN 0-51710-316-8.
• Thetford, Owen. Aircraft of the Royal Air Force since 1918. London: Putnam & Co., 1979. ISBN 0-37030-186-2.
• "U.S.A. Navy F-5-L Flying Boat (PDF) (Contemporary technical description with photographs and drawings; first part of two-part article)". Flight, XI (31), No. 553, 31 July 1919, pp. 1024–1026. Retrieved: 4 February 2011.
• "U.S.A. Navy F-5-L Flying Boat (PDF)(Second part of two-part article)." Flight, XI (32), No. 554, 7 August 1919, pp. 1058–1062. Retrieved: 4 February 2011.

External links