Seaplane

aviation · water · transportation · aircraft

Two main types. Seaplanes come in two flavors: floatplanes, which have pontoons (like skis) under them, and flying boats, which have a special boat-shaped bottom. Flying boats are much bigger and can carry way more people and cargo.

Landing on water. Instead of needing a concrete runway, seaplanes can land directly on oceans, lakes, or rivers. This makes them super useful for reaching remote places where there are no airports.

Some are amphibious. The coolest seaplanes can do both, taking off and landing on water OR on regular airfields. These are called amphibious aircraft, giving pilots maximum flexibility.

Not to be confused. The word hydroplane sounds similar, but it's actually a fast boat that skims across water, not an airplane. It's an easy mix-up!

Historical name. Back in the day, people sometimes called seaplanes hydroplanes too, but that word has changed meaning over time as technology evolved.