Flying boats to be phased Out!

 With recent crashes?

The flying boat may be seeing its last days as a viable machine, that is because some of the older types are facing problems with fatigue and just cannot perform as they once did!

But this is also an illusion, since there remains many new German, Canadian and Russian types that are essential in civilian roles across the world, for fire fighting as in Greece, Californian, U.S.A and Canada?

The Canadian Canadair CL-415 super scooper the Beriev A40 and civilian Be-200 remain some of the most successful fire-fighting boats around the world and are far superior than aircraft of helicopters!

So we cant just say, 'their time is up when it may be developed into something far better?

Happy Christmas East and West and a peaceful New Year!

Flying Boats Today! One.

Beriev, Canadair, and Dornier?

These are some of the main manufacturers of flying boats today around the world and it is Russia that is leading the way with its Beriev B200 firefighter and other variants. This aircraft was based on its former Soviet military version developed for maritime reconnaissance and it is not clear if it is still operational?

Other manufactures such as Canadian Canadair developed two smaller flying boats that have had some success in the firefighting role the CL-214/215. But in recent work in both the United States and Portugal aircraft and crews were lost in wild fires work!

The third builder is German Dornier, who having much experience has opted for a smaller pleasure model, but this still has other options with it in relation to patrol work? The Peoples Republic of China have now developed its own long-range four engine flying boat making it the largest in the world, currently this is believed to be only a military venture?

Both the U.S. Navy and Japan have also taken a fresh interest in revitalising their last designs with modern electronics and weapon systems for sea, and coastal patrols. We will look at these later on to see more about them!