Boeing B&W Seaplane
Boeing · United States · first flew 1916 · light aircraft
The B&W Seaplane was the first aircraft designed and built by William Boeing (under the Pacific Aero Products Company name), making it the founding design of what would become The Boeing Company. It was a two-seat twin-float biplane seaplane.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.38 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- First aircraft built by Boeing (then Pacific Aero Products)
- Twin-float biplane seaplane
- Named after designers Westervelt and Boeing
A conventional equal-span biplane seaplane with twin main floats, tandem open cockpits, and a nose-mounted Hall-Scott engine — the unmistakable beginning of Boeing's lineage.
Specifications
- The Boeing B&W Seaplane has a length of 8.38 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.86 m (52 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 121 km/h (75 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 (tandem).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by William Boeing and US Navy engineer Conrad Westervelt (hence 'B&W'), the seaplane first flew in June 1916 on Lake Union, Seattle. The US Navy declined to purchase it, but Boeing refined the design and pressed on, eventually selling two aircraft to New Zealand.
Variants
Two aircraft were built; the second differed slightly in engine installation. The design led directly to the Boeing Model C.
Where you'll see it
Two B&Ws were sold to the New Zealand Flying School; the US Navy did not order the type.
Related aircraft
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