Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large seaplane that floats with its fuselage in the water rather than on pontoons: A "flying boat" is a type of aircraft designed to take off from and land on water. Its main body (fuselage) is shaped like a boat hull, allowing it to float directly on the water's surface, unlike floatplanes which use separate pontoons.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The historic flying boat made a smooth landing on the lake.
  • Before long runways were common, flying boats were used for transoceanic travel.
  • The museum has a restored flying boat from the 1930s.

Advanced Usage

• "Flying boat" as a historical term: The term is strongly associated with early to mid-20th century aviation, particularly for passenger and military use before the widespread construction of long, hard-surfaced runways.
  • The Pan Am Clipper was a famous series of flying boats.

Variants and Related Words

• Seaplane (n): A broader category of aircraft that can operate from water, encompassing both flying boats and floatplanes.
• Floatplane (n): A seaplane that uses slender floats (pontoons) attached to the fuselage for buoyancy, contrasting with a flying boat's boat-like hull.
• Amphibious aircraft (n): An aircraft capable of operating from both land and water, which can include amphibious flying boats.

Synonyms

• Seaplane: A general term for water-based aircraft.
• Maritime aircraft: A formal term for aircraft designed for over-water operations.

Related Phrases

• "Flying boat era": Refers to the period, roughly from the 1920s to 1950s, when flying boats were a primary mode for long-distance air travel and patrol.
  • He wrote a book about the flying boat era.

Related Idioms

• The term "flying boat" is a specific technical and historical noun and is not typically used idiomatically.

Noun

1. a large seaplane that floats with its fuselage in the water rather than on pontoons