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!

Cessna 0-2 and Dornier Do-335A

Both of these aircraft are unique in the aviation world for having both a rear and forward propeller. The Cessna 0-2 was developed for psychological warfare in the Vietnam wars and is powered by two engines. It also belongs to the twin boom family. Meanwhile the Nazi-German Luftwaffe Dornier DO-335A has both a similar engine layout, except the rear propeller is engine less. 

The Germans required a new fighter and despite plans laid down in 1942, it was not produced until late1944. At end end of World-War-II only about 30 aircraft had been built and 80 remained unfinished.

The Cessna O-2 Sky master has been built in the thousands and under licence in France as the FR-337. 

Performance wise, the Dornier was much faster. But by 1944 it was being superseded by the early jets. 

The O-2 could operated high-low and had a good range. 

Recently it has been discovered that this type of layout is much more economical on fuel consumption and a whole plethora of new types are being experimented with in the U.S. One of them being the Adam A500.