Boeing Model 1
The Boeing Model 1, also known as the B & W Seaplane, is a United States single-engine biplane seaplane aircraft. It was the first Boeing product and carried the initials of its designers, William Boeing and Lt. Conrad Westervelt USN.
Design
The first B & W was completed in June 1916 at Boeing's boathouse hangar on Lake Union in Seattle, Washington. It was made of wood, with wire bracing, and was linen-covered. It was similar to the Martin trainer aircraft that Boeing owned, but the B & W had better pontoons and a more powerful engine. The first B & W was named Bluebill, and the second was named Mallard. They first flew on June 15, 1916, and in November, respectively.Operational history
The two B & Ws were offered to the United States Navy. When the Navy did not buy them, they were sold to the New [Zealand Flying School] and became the company's first international sale. On June 25, 1919, the B & W set a New Zealand altitude record of 6,500 feet. The B & Ws were later used for express and airmail deliveries, making New Zealand's first official airmail flight on December 16, 1919.To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the company, Boeing built a third B & W Seaplane, designated Model 1A, in 1966. The Model 1A is a modernized replica of the original Model 1 with many structural improvements, including a welded steel tubing fuselage and tail construction. The aircraft also has modernized flight controls and instrumentation, and is powered by a derated Lycoming GO-435 engine. The Model 1A was originally built as a pure seaplane like the original, though it was later fitted with bolt-on wheels to allow it to operate on land.