Flying boats became essential during World War II because they could move equipment and personnel through regions with little infrastructure. Their ability to operate from water also made them flexible maritime patrol aircraft. An aircraft short of fuel could land near an allied ship and might even receive fuel from another flying boat that landed nearby. These advantages raise the question of why flying boats became less common after the war.
Chapter · 0:04-1:47
Why flying boats remained useful after 1945
Flying boats answered wartime infrastructure shortages with transport, patrol, and refuelling flexibility, raising the question of why their roles declined after the war.