AD Flying Boat

The AD Flying Boat was designed by the British Admiralty's Air Department to serve as a patrol aircraft that could operate in conjunction with Royal Navy warships. Intended for use during World War I, production of the aircraft was terminated as the end of the war came into sight, and the type saw little operational use.

Designed by Lt Linton Hope, the aircraft was of conventional biplane flying-boat configuration, and also featured a biplane tail with twin rudders. The pilot and observer sat in tandem in the nose, with the engine and pusher propeller mounted behind them, between the wings. The wings could be folded forwards to facilitate shipboard stowage.

Two prototypes were constructed in 1915 by Pemberton-Billing Ltd (later to become Supermarine Aviation), and these were followed by twenty-seven production machines out of an original order for eighty-five.

Following the Armistice, Supermarine purchased nineteen of these aircraft back to remanufacture for the civil market as the Supermarine Channel.