March 1925: The Rohrbach all-metal flying boat

Back in March 1925 The Engineer looked at the development of an all-metal flying boat that came into being by side-stepping the Treaty of Versailles.

The Rohrbach Metal Aaroplan Company of Copenhagen had developed three flying boats before entering into partnership with Scotland’s William Beardmore and Co. to develop double and multiple engine aircraft for land and marine services.

William Beardmore and Co. was an engineering and shipbuilding company with a shipyard at Dalmuir on the River Clyde that was to host the development of a flying boat made up of Duralumin, a light aluminium alloy containing varying quantities of copper and manganese that is comparable in strength to soft steel after heat treatment and aging.

According to our article, the constructional principles adopted in the Rohrbach-Beardmore system were like those in use for bridge and shipbuilding, and the structure was built up of riveted girders and plates which made it possible to employ larger wingspans and higher powers than previously used for flying boats.