Southampton's relationship with flying boats and seaplanes
stretched over forty-five years of exciting developments in
aviation, leading to the founding of the first national airline.
In the pioneer period of aviation aircraft could not be
considered reliable and a landing on water was a softer option than
land. Read about the beginnings of marine aviation in Southampton.
Find out about the small company that made an impact on the
world aviation stage. First to start commercial flights
across the channel and winner of the Schneider Trophy outright for
Great Britain.
Discover the history of how the first national airline came to life
and how it expanded its flying boat operation carrying mail for the
price of a stamp all over the British Empire.
In this section discover what the outbreak of World War Two meant
for Southampton and the flying boats, the change from Imperial
Airways to BOAC and the company’s move to Poole in Dorset during
the war years.
The decline of Southampton's relationship with flying boats
began with the withdrawal of B.O.A.C. Discover how Aquila
Airways tried to keep it alive and what caused it to eventually
end.
