J.Davilla, A.Soltan French Aircraft of the First World War (Flying Machines)

F.B.A. Type H

  In the second half of 1915 an F.B.A. Type B airframe was fitted with a 150-hp Hispano-Suiza 8A engine and flown to Burri. The aircraft had redesigned wings and tailplane and a reinforced hull. It could carry a crew of three. It was successful enough to warrant series production as the Type H and entered service in May 1916. The Type H was intended to fill the Aviation Maritime's requirement for a patrol seaplane capable of dealing with enemy cruisers and submarines. The naval air service required 360 patrol flying boats and most of these were to be F.B.A. Type Hs. The Type H was well armed with a machine gun on a swivel mount in the nose and a 35-kg F series bomb under each of the lower wings. Some of the Type Hs used the 160-hp AM (Lorraine) eight-cylinder engine. The crew of two sat side by side in the cockpit and there was a connecting tunnel to the nose gun compartment. The aircraft were based in the Atlantic, Channel coast, and Mediterranean. A total of 157 Type Hs were delivered from January to October 1917.
  At least one Type H was modified to become an amphibian by fitting a pair of wheels on the side of the hull. It was flown on the Colombes race course. Another Type H was modified to accept a 37-mm Hotchkiss cannon and a fixed landing gear and was intended for use as a land-based fighter. (See F.B.A. Type D.)
  The Type H was the most numerous F.B.A. flying boat to be produced during the war and was possibly built in greater numbers than any other flying boat in World War One.


Foreign Service

Belgium
  The Escadrille Navale acquired five F.B.A. Type Hs during the war. Some were modified to accept 180-hp Hispano 8Ab engines and were redesignated Type N. They arrived on 18 September 1917. From their base at Calais, they were used to patrol the Channel and the North Sea. The escadrille moved to Ostende at the end of the war and was disbanded in 1919. Aircraft No.5 has been preserved and displayed at the Musee de l'Air at Brussels.

Estonia
  Estonia acquired a single F.B.A. Type H in the 1920s, given serial number 66.

Finland
  Finland acquired at least one Type H.

Italy
  The F.B.A. Type H was produced under license in Italy by the Savoia (SIAI) firm. The aircraft differed from the French versions in having a more powerful 170-hp Isotta-Fraschini engine. Also, the dimensions of the Italian seaplanes were larger than the French machines. A total of 982 were built in Italy up until production ceased in late 1918.
  In 1917 there were 367 Type Cs and Hs in service. They were assigned as follows on 1 June 1917: Brindisi (12), Valona (18), seaplane carriers (8), and Corfu (6).
  At the time of the Armistice, the Italian naval air service had a total of nearly 600 F.B.A.s (Cs and Hs) on strength. These were assigned to the following squadriglias:
   Reconnaissance squadriglias: 254, 255 (based at Varano), 256 (Otranto), 257 (Valona), 58 (seaplane carrier Europa), 263 (Porto Cosini), and 264 (Ancona).
   Patrol squadriglias: 266 (Sanreno), 267 (Porto Maurizio), 268 (Rapallo), 269 (La Spezia), 270 (Palermo), 271 (Civitavecchia), 273 (Livorno), 274 (Piombino), 275 (Ponza), 276 (Napoli), 277 (Sapri), 278 (Terranova Pausiana), 279 (Cagliari), 280 (Milazzo), 281 (Taormina), 282 (Catania), 283 (Siracusa), 284 (Trapani), 285 (Orbetello).

Peru
  Three F.B.A. Type Hs were brought to Peru by a French aviation mission in 1919. They were used as trainers.

Serbia
  Serbia obtained three Type Hs postwar. They were assigned to Hidroplansk Kommande (Seaplane Command) and assigned codes N 13, 14, and 15. They were used primarily as trainers.

Spain
  Two F.B.A. Type Hs were obtained by the Spanish naval air service beginning in 1917. They had been built under license by the Italian SIAI firm. The aircraft were well liked and it is believed that up to six more were purchased by the Spanish. The Type Hs were given serial numbers 1 through 8. There were only three Type Hs in service in 1922, and these were used by the pilots undergoing flight training at the base at Los Alcazares. Aircraft numbers 3, 4, and 6 remained in service until 1927, when, after they were worn out from their extensive use as trainers, they were replaced by Macchi M.18s.

United Kingdom
  The Royal Naval Air Service obtained four F.B.A. Type Hs (which had built under license in Italy) in 1917. They were given serial numbers N1075-1078 and were assigned to the base at Otranto; some were also assigned to 6 Wing. Two were sent to Malta in June 1917 and one of them bombed a U-boat on 20 August 1917.

United States
  Many of the U.S. naval aviation units based in France used F.B.A. Type Hs but they were rapidly replaced by Donnet-Denhaut D.D.8s and consequently saw only limited action. Three F.B.A.s were also flown by Americans based at Porto Corsini in Italy. The Americans, despite some hesitation, liked the F.B.A.s. An American report describes the hull as being "poorly constructed but has nevertheless given excellent results." The F.B.A.s were all sent directly from the Schreck factory to the U.S. naval base at Moutchic, where they were given serial numbers 295, 296, 297, 801, 802, 806, 807, 808, 813, 814, and 815. All but number 802 were returned to the French at the end of the war; it was destroyed while in U.S. service. These flying boats were used primarily as trainers.

Uruguay
  The Uruguayan air service received a single Italian-built F.B.A. with a 220-hp engine, donated by a private citizen named D. Zambra. Consequently the aircraft was named Zambra. It was probably a Type H, although the H models usually had engines of lower horsepower.


F.B.A. Type H Three-Seat Flying Boat with 150-hp Hispano-Suiza 8A
   Span 14.12 m; length 9.92 m; height 3.10 m; wing area 40.00 sq. m
   Empty weight 984 kg; loaded weight 1,420 kg
   Maximum speed: 150 km/h; ceiling 4900 m; range 450 km
   Armament: a single 7.7-mm machine gun on a swivel mount in the nose and two 35-kg "F" series bombs

SIAI-built Type H Three-Seat Flying Boat with 170-hp Isotta-Fraschini
   Span 14.55 m; length 10.20 m; height 3.78 m; wing area 42 sq. m
   Empty weight 925 kg; loaded weight 1,400 kg
   Maximum speed: 140 km/h; climb to 1,000 m in 8 min.; climb to 2,000 m in 18 min.; climb to 3,000 m in 31 min.; climb to 4,000 m in 47 min; ceiling 5,000 m, range 600 km
   982 built



F.B.A. Type S
  The Aviation Maritime's specification for a flying boat for patrol and light bombing was initiated by the availability of the 200-hp Hispano Suiza 8Bb engine in 1917. Levy-Besson submitted a triplane flying boat, Tellier a twin-engine flying boat, and the Donnet-Denhaut firm a redesigned D.D.2. F.B.A. also chose to alter a previous design, the Type H, to accept the new engine. The new plane was designated the Type S.
  As well as having a more powerful 200-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Bb, the Type S differed from the Type H in having a larger wing span and a longer fuselage. Other changes included a square radiator and a larger tail unit to compensate for the more powerful engine. The hull was redesigned, with changes to the planing bottom, and the wings were designed to fold for easier storage. While only a single machine gun was carried, the bomb load was increased to two 77-kg bombs or two 110-kg or four 50-kg bombs. A crew of two was standard, but a mechanic could also be carried. Some Type S aircraft had the 210-hp Hispano-Suiza BDd engine.
  The aircraft entered service in November 1917 and were based at the naval aviation stations on the Channel, Atlantic, and in the Mediterranean. They remained in service until 1923, when they were finally replaced by Latham and Blanchard flying boats.


Variants

  There were developments of the F.B.A. Type S that included one fitted with a 275-hp Hispano engine mounted inside a nacelle. The fuselage was unchanged, but the wings and tail were altered. This experimental aircraft was given serial number 1222. To permit adequate stability, all ailerons were enlarged. The aircraft was destroyed during its second fight and the end of the war halted further development. One Type S was fitted with two rotary engines. Another was designed with a wing chord reduced by 20 cm. It crashed on its first flight.


F.B.A. Type S Three-Seat Flying Boat with 200-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Bb or 210-hp Hispano-Suiza 8Dd
   Span 15.60 m; length 10.59 m; height 3.65 m; wing area 46.00 sq. m
   Empty weight 1,060 kg; loaded weight 1,600 kg
   Maximum speed: 142 km/h; ceiling 4,000 m; range 500 km; climb to 500 m in 2 min. 30 sec.; climb to 2,000 m in 18 min. (some sources say 16 min.)
   Armament: a 7.7-mm machine gun in the nose and two 35-kg bombs or, later, two 50-kg bombs (one source states four 50-kg bombs)
  


F.B.A. High Seas Flying Boat

  The French naval air service issued a requirement in 1918 for what was termed a high seas flying boat. This specification, perhaps inspired by the Felixstowe seaplanes, called for an endurance of eight hours, a large radio with a range of 300 km, four Type I (120-kg) bombs, and two machine guns. The aircraft was to have a maximum speed of 140 km/h and be able to climb to 2,000 m in 25 minutes. Aircraft designed to meet this requirement were submitted by Donnet-Denhaut, Farman, Nieuport, Tellier, Levy (Besson), Latham, and F.B.A.
  The F.B.A design had four 250-hp Hispano engines. It was a biplane with a wing surface area of 180 sq. m and was 80 percent complete when the Armistice resulted in cancellation of the project.



F.B.A. Triplane Flying Boat

  F.B.A. had a triplane flying boat under development in 1917. This was powered by a single 300-hp Renault (although one source states that a 300-hp Binetti was used). It had been completed by December 1917. It carried a crew of three and was undergoing testing in April 1918, but never entered service. It is unlikely that the type, even if successful, would have been selected for production by the Aviation Maritime. The navy had concluded that triplanes had a number of disadvantages over biplanes, including higher weight and a larger number of supporting struts which made them ungainly, especially when taxiing on the water.


F.B.A. Three-Seat Triplane Flying Boat with 300-hp Renault
   Wing area 62 sq. m
   Pay load 250 kg
   Maximum speed: 87 mph at 2,000 in; climb to 2,000 in in 25 minutes
   One built

G.Swanborough, P.Bowers United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911 (Putnam)

FBA TYPE H

The Navy operated 11 FBA (Franco-British Aviation) flying-boats, of French manufacture, from its bases in France in 1918 and at least six others of Italian manufacture from its base at Porto Corsini, Italy. These were three-seat reconnaissance and light bomber aircraft with 180 hp Hispano-Suiza engines. Span, 47 ft 7 in; length, 33 ft 2 in; gross weight, 3,218 lb; max speed, 90 mph.

E.Hauke, W.Schroeder, B.Totschinger Die Flugzeuge der k.u.k. Luftfahrtruppe und Seeflieger 1914-1918

Beuteflugzeuge bei den k.u.k. Seefliegern
F.B.A. Type H Nr. 3403 (italienisch) IF 160
F.B.A. Type S (italienisch) Hispano 200

J.Davilla Italian Aviation in the First World War. Vol.2: Aircraft A-H (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 74)

FBA Type H

  One of the most ubiquitous, and important Italian naval aircraft in the First World War, the F.B.A. Type H was used by by 28 Squadriglias.
  The aircraft also helped to provide the fledgling Italian aeronautical industry with experience building flying boats. The SIAI (Societa Idrovolanti Alta Italia = Seaplane Society of Upper Italy) was created to build FBAs under license by Italian entrepreneur Domenico Sanoni and the Caoe brothers woodworking firm. The SIAI firm has enjoyed enormous success, even to this day. License production saved the Italians from having to depend on the overloaded French aircraft and aero engine industry which could not possibly supply all the airframes and engines that were required by their ally.
  The SIAI aircraft were fitted with a 170-hp Isotta-Fraschini engine and had larger dimensions. A total of 982 were built in Italy until production ceased in late 1918.
  Five Type Hs were order by the military, but not by the Regia Marina, but by the Regia Esercito (the Royal Army). Varriale reports that five were ordered by the Esercito even been before the first example had flown. They expanded their order to 48 SIAI Type Hs in June 1916. The first two reached Venice in late August and were assigned to 1a Squadriglia Idro.
  The Regia Marina had evaluated the FBA C but found its Monosoupape to be problematic. Once the Type H became available with the indigenous Isotta-Fraschini engine, they eagerly ordered large numbers of the type. Due to production difficulties at SIAI, they had received only five Type Hs in Venice by October 1916, plus two in Varano, Brindisi, and Valona (in Albania).There were also two with the Taranto flying school; this gives a total of only 13 aircraft.

Variant

  Gallinari proposed an amphibious version of the Type H with the wheels retracting into fairings on the side of the hull. It appears to have been built, but was never tested. Indeed, it may never have flown at all.

Production

  The key to mass producing aircraft in France was the need to use reliable subcontractors. Understanding this, SIAI chose to subcontract work to CIVES in Varazze, Gallinari in Livorno, Savoia e Zari in Bovisio, IAM in Naples and Ducrot in Palermo. Together, by the end of the war these companies would build nearly 1,000 aircraft. Unfortunately, Gallinari and Durcot would have serious production problems that would result in frequent equipment failure in operational service.
  SIAI: 406 aircraft
   1916 - 38 aircraft, 1917 - 294 aircraft, 1918 - 74 aircraft
  Durcot: 120 built (out of 160 ordered)
  Industrie Aviatorie Meridionale: 100 (140)
  Savoia: 100 (100)
  Societa Costruzioni Idrovolanti of the CIVES School of Varazze: 100 (100)
  Societa Industrie Aeronautiche Gallinari of Livorno: 93 (100)
  Zari: 60 (60)
  Total: 1,029 FBAs were produced (almost all Type Hs)

Operational Service

Esercito

  The Army would have a brief flirtation with developing its own naval aviation units. They formed 1a, 2a (at Grado), and 3a Squadriglias, before largely abandoning naval aviation to the Regia Marina.

Regia Marina

  In 1917 there were 367 Type Bs, Cs, and Hs in service. These aircraft flew patrol and bombing missions, but their most important task was anti-submarine duties. Shipping was vulnerable to German and Austro-Hungarian submarines and, as with the Western front, aviation would play a crucial role in limiting the efficacy of sub attacks. Eventually, a network of seaplane stations was created to cover almost the entire coastline of Italy, plus Libya and Albania. Initially operating as seaplane stations, they were redesigned Squadriglias in early 1917 as the number of FBA Type Hs produced began to increase dramatically.
  FBA Hs were assigned as follows on 1 June 1917: Brindisi (12), Valona (18), seaplane carriers (8), and Corfu (6). At the time of the Armistice, the Italian naval air service had a total of nearly 600 FBAs (Cs and Hs) on strength. These were assigned to the following squadriglias: Reconnaissance squadriglias: 254, 255 (based at Varano), 256 (Otranto), 257 (Valona), 58 (seaplane carrier Europa), 263 (Porto Cosini), and 264 (Ancona).
  Patrol squadriglias: 266 (Sanreno), 267 (Porto Maurizio), 268 (Rapallo), 269 (La Spezia), 270 (Palermo), 271 (Civitavecchia), 273 (Livorno), 274 (Piombino), 275 (Ponza),276 (Napoli), 277 (Sapri),278 (Terranova Pausiana), 279 (Cagliari), 280 (Milazzo), 281 (Taormina), 282 (Catania), 283 (Siracusa), 284 (Trapani), 285 (Orbetello).
  The FBAs were effective in reconnaissance missions, but their low ceiling made them vulnerable to AAA. As time progressed, their slow speed was more than matched by the Austro-Hungarian fighters, so they now required fighter escort, often from Macchi M3s. They also reportedly required a higher workload on their pilots, being unforgiving of mistakes. Furthermore, the Durcot and Gallinari machines had so many issues, that units would send officers to their factories in an attempt to determine what the problem was. Varriale notes that Capitano di Corvetta Ponzio, the Regia Marina Director of Aeronautical Services in the Upper Adriatic, decided against using FBAs over fortified targets by day. As a results the FBAs at Venice were moved to quieter sections of the front. Records show that 258a had already made this same decision in 1917; it would seem likely that at least some of the other Squadriglias using the type would come to the same decision.
  The FBA Hs did not have rudders making taxying at sea difficult. The Type Hs relatively low ceiling made it vulnerable to AAA unless the payload was severely restricted. The use of petrol hand pumps proved impractical under combat conditions. The aircraft’s low speed made interceptions of enemy aircraft difficult, if not impossible.
  The FBA Hs also proved useful as dual control trainers in the seaplane flying school. It is reported that one had its top wing removed so it could used as a seaborne “penguin” to teach pilots to taxi on the water. U.S. Naval aviators were also trained on the type prior to being assigned to the now American run 263a Squadriglia.
  Despite all these issues, FBA Type Hs served throughout the First World War in both the Regia Marina and Esercito. They were effective in the maritime reconnaissance role, often operating in pairs for up to four hours on patrol.
  As the war ended the Regia Marina still had 382 FBA Hs in service. Their intended replacement was also built by SIAI as the S.8. It was a fine airplane, but it arrived far too late to replace the FBAs. In April 1919 there were 331 FBAs in service.


Foreign Service

United Kingdom

  During June the Italians presented RNAS Taranto with four FBA flying boats. They were given RNAS serials N.1075-N.1078. Two were retained at Taranto, and the other two were sent to Malta.


Postwar

1919

  The Regia Marina had 140 FBA Hs on strength on 20 April 1919. Including examples with training units and the depots the total comes to 501 FBAs.


Libya

  Three FBA Hs seziones had been established in Libya during the war to patrol for German flying boats; these seziones later merged to form 286a Squadriglia. 286a remained active postwar.
  The Type Hs served alongside the land based aircraft in attacks against local rebellious tribes.


SIAI-built Type H Three-Seat Flying Boat with 170-hp Isotta-Fraschini
  Wingspan 14.55 m; length 10.20 m; height 3.78m; wing area 42 sq. m;
  Empty weight 925 kg; leaded weight 1,400 kg
  Maximum speed: 140 km/h; climb to 1,000 m in 8 min.; climb to 2,000 m in 18 min.; climb to 3,000 m in 31 min.; climb to 4,000 m in 47 min; ceiling 5,000 m, range 600 km
  982 built



Gallinari Seaplanes

  The name isn’t that of an “Italian designer”. Rather, it refers to the wooden boat-building yard, Cantiere Navale G. Gallinari ScC. of Livorno and to its aviation subsidiary, Societa Anonima Industrie Meccaniche Gallinari based at Marina di Pisa. It was formed in 1916 to license-building seaplanes (beginning in 1916 or 1917, sources vary). There are suggestions that sometime during its existence, that the Gallinari plant built a wooden seaplane, but details are lacking.
  It is likely that the firm built FBAs (either parts for the aircraft or the whole airframe).
  There is mention of the Societa Anonima Industrie Meccaniche Gallinari holding a license to build the FBA Type H flying boat in Italy. SIAI (Societa Idrovolanti Alta Italia) however held the rights to license production, so Gallinari’s actual involvement in producing these aircraft, if any, remains in doubt.
  While Type H production remains uncertain, according to Progettazione e produttivita dell’industria aeronautica italiana dalle origini al 1943: Le relazioni della “Direzione Costruzioni Aeronautiche” dell’Aeronautica Militare, Gallinari built 93 aircraft during the war, primarily SIAI S.8 flying boats.
  Societa Anonima Industrie Meccaniche Gallinari closed after WWI. The firm was on shaky ground - Cantieri Gallinari had filed for bankruptcy in 1912 (although the boat-builder is going strong today). In 1921, the German-financed Societa Anonima Italiana Costruzioni Meccaniche (SAICM) took over Gallinari’s Marina di Pisa factory space. Formed to license-build Dorniers, SAICM became the more familiar CMASA (Costruzioni Meccaniche Aeronautiche - Societa Anonima) after its 1925 move to Genoa.

Журнал Flight

Flight, April 11, 1918.

FROM OTHER LANDS.
THE F.B.A. FLYING BOAT.

   WE are indebted to our American contemporary Aerial Age for the accompanying illustrations and scale drawings (passed by the U.S. censor) of the F.B.A. Flying Boat, which has been used with such great success by the Allies for over-water scouting and fighting.
   The Franco-British Aviation (Societe Anonyme), Paris, was founded in 1914 by Lieut. Jean de Conneau, (Andre Beaumont, winner of the Paris-Rome, Circuit-European, and Circuit-of-Britain races), and M. Schraeck of the French Wright Co., to exploit the patents pertaining to the Donnet-Leveque and Artois Flying Boats.
   During the war various models of F.B.A. boats have been produced and employed by the Allies, more particularly France and Italy, and these machines, equipped with Gnome, Clerget, or more often Hispano-Suiza engines, have proved very efficient and speedy. The accompanying illustrations and scale drawings show the model fitted with the 130 h.p. Hispano-Suiza as used by the French. The top plane has a span of about 46 ft. 6 ins., and a chord of 6 ft., whilst the span and chord of the lower plane are 35 ft. and 5 ft. respectively. The gap between the planes is 5 ft. 9 ins., and the overall length of the machine is 32 ft. 6 ins.