A new breed of amphibious aircraft from sustainable seaplanes to gliders is set to take off in the next five years, vying to redefine short-haul coastal and island travel. The advantages of landing on water have long been recognized since the first powered take-off and landing on a lagoon in Martigues, France, in 1910. In the ensuing decades, floatplanes and flying boats went through a period of rapid development opening up a world of travel exploration. Just nine years after that first successful flight, the long-range Curtiss Model H became the first flying boat to cross the Atlantic Ocean, from Newfoundland to Plymouth, England. In the late 1930s, the Boeing 314 Clipper was so opulent it was nicknamed a “flying ocean liner,” catering to the world’s wealthiest celebrities and diplomats. In World War II, amphibious aircraft were used for reconnaissance, search and rescue operations, and anti-submarine warfare. After that, changes in technology..
