J.Bruce British Aeroplanes 1914-1918 (Putnam)

Felixstowe F.5

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  In late 1919 the Aeromarine Plane & Motor Company of Keyport, New Jersey, modified two F-5Ls to accommodate twelve passengers in two cabins within the hull, which was provided with circular windows. This conversion was known as the Aeromarine Model 75, and the boats were used on the Key West-Havana route operated by Aeromarine West Indies Airways, Inc. They carried hundreds of prohibition-weary passengers to and from Cuba without incident until the collapse of the operating company in 1923, when the air-mail subsidies were withdrawn.
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C.Owers The Fighting America Flying Boats of WWI Vol.2 (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 23)

Aeromarine

   In the Philadelphia Navy Yard were stored considerable numbers of F-5-L flying boats for which the Navy had no immediate need. 20 of these flying boats were offered for auction on 22 September 1919. Paul G. Zimmerman of the Aeromarine Plane and Motor Co was of the opinion that their sale at the low price would flood the market. He put forward a scheme whereby they would be given to cities and municipalities who would operate these after conversion to civilian passenger carriers by members of the Manufacturers Aircraft Association. Hunsaker replied that while he had read the proposal with “considerable interest” he was of the opinion that it would take an act of Congress to allow for the disposal of the boats in the manner presented by Zimmerman. This scheme came to nothing.
   In March 1920, Zimmerman again wrote to Hunsaker. He stated that the company was just working on their first conversion of an F-5-L into a commercial machine. This was purchased for around $6,500. Five machines were contemplated for conversion. “We are satisfied that as soon as the first machine is flown much publicity will be given to it and from this publicity inquiries will result.” Zimmerman wanted a full set, some 2,000 drawings for the F-5-L. In reply to this request, the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts noted that six F-5-L machines had recently been sold at a price of $10,850 each and it was understood, unofficially, that Aeromarine would modify the aircraft. The Bureau thought that Aeromarine should pay for the drawings. What the result was is not known, however about eleven F-5-L boats were converted by Aeromarine Plane and Motor Co to a passenger configuration. Given the designation Aeromarine 75 they were capable of carrying ten passengers. The aircraft were operated by the company’s own airlines: Aeromarine Airways and Aeromarine West Indies Airways, flying from Key West to Havana; New York to Atlantic City, and Cleveland to Detroit. They are credited with carrying the first international air mail from the USA.
   Aeromarine literature stated that this
   Aeromarine aerial cruiser, which has ample accommodation for ten passengers, exclusive of pilot and pilot’s mechanician, has been designed for aerial voyages from New York to Asbury Park Atlantic City, Norfolk, Washington, Baltimore, Southampton, New Haven, New London, Newport, Miami and other points on the Atlantic.
   The trip would be made “in appointments that even the custom-built creations of the Automobile world, this new Aeromarine cruiser has a comfort all its own.”
   The “Aircraft Yearbook” for 1921 listed two F-5-L Cruisers with Aeromarine Sightseeing & Navigation Company (merged with Aeromarine West Indies Airways Inc), and six F-5-L Cruisers with Aeromarine West Indies Airways Inc. In the 1924 edition it lists five F-5-L thirteen-passenger craft with Aeromarine Airways Corp.
   In February 1921 the Bureau of C&R recommended the sale of two F-5 flying boats to the Aeromarine Plane and Motor Co. They were to be delivered as is and not removed from their crates for overhaul. If any surfaces required covering, this was to be furnished separately.
   Aeromarine Airways lasted until 1924 when it ceased operations. The full story of his pioneer airline may be found in “Aeromarine Airways - Its Aircraft and History,” by D Koch, in Skyways, the Journal of the Airplane 1920-1940, No.52, Oct 1999.