The importance of the flying boat was first generally recognised in England, and no other country can look back on so long continuous and systematic development of building flying boats. For this reason I feel it a special distinction that the Royal Aeronautical Society has asked me to give a lecture here, and I meet their wishes with pleasure.

In January, 1926, Major Buchanan gave a lecture before this Society on the Schneider Trophy Race for 1925. He then gave a very complete history of the race and full information about the machines up to that period. I propose to give a brief description of the development which has taken place since then in the design of British high–speed seaplanes.

After the failure of the British team to win the race in America in 1925 it was brought home to all interested that our machines were a long way inferior to the American machines, and that if we wished to again hold our own in this important field of aviation we should have to treat the matter much more seriously. Furthermore, it became obvious to all that machines could no longer be entered for these races by private enterprise. It is true that the Air Ministry had loaned the machines for the race, but very little opportunity had been given for research and experimental work, and the engine designers and aircraft designers had been working independently.