Curtiss F5L
Curtiss / Naval Aircraft Factory · United States · first flew 1918 · light aircraft
The Curtiss F5L was a large twin-engine biplane flying boat developed from the Felixstowe F.5 design, built in the United States by the Naval Aircraft Factory and Curtiss for US Navy patrol and anti-submarine operations.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15.04 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- Large twin-engine biplane flying boat of World War I
- Two Liberty engines in pusher configuration between wings
- Large single-step hull with biplane wing cellule above
A large biplane flying boat with twin pusher Liberty engines mounted between the wings, a single-step hull, and a broad unequal-span biplane cellule — virtually identical in silhouette to the British Felixstowe F.5.
Specifications
- The Curtiss F5L has a length of 15.04 m (49 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 31.6 m (104 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 145 km/h (90 mph).
- Typical crew: 4–6.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in 1918, the F5L was an American-built adaptation of the British Felixstowe F.5 flying boat, powered by Liberty V-12 engines; it served the US Navy through the early 1920s and was briefly operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Variants
The main variant differed from the British original primarily in engine choice (Liberty 12 vs. Rolls-Royce Eagle); Canadian Aeroplanes Ltd also produced the type in Canada.
Where you'll see it
Primary US Navy maritime patrol aircraft of the immediate post-World War I period; also used briefly by Canada. The UK country attribution in the source data appears to reflect the British design origin (Felixstowe F.5), not UK operation of this specific American build.
Related aircraft
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