Flying boats are fixed-wing aircraft with hulls like boats, allowing them to land on water instsead of runways. Lakes, seas, reflecting pools, you name it.
In the early history of flight this kind of thing was popular because there were a lot of places without runways and airstrips, and a lot of those that did exist were too small to accomodate larger, long-distance airplanes. There were other advantages too - because their size wasn't limited by the length of runways, they could be built to an impressive size, and had longer range than land-based airplanes. I imagine it was also comforting to be able to land safely on the water in case of mechanical problems.
I think my favorite flying boat is the Dornier Do X (pictured in the thumbnail) which was made in the 1920's. In addition to seats for about a hundred passengers, its three decks contained an onboard kitchen, a dining room, multiple bathrooms, and a bar. Each nacelle on the top has two engines, for a total of twelve. There's just something magnificent about it.
In the 21st century flying boats are quite rare, although there are a few models used for fighting wildfires. The CL-415 Super Scooper for example, can skim the surface of a lake or reservoir for a few seconds and take in more than six thousand liters of water without stopping!
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::: spoiler alienation I guess?
You know how some people say "oh I feel like I belong!" when they are in a group, or how they show such feelings of belonging clearly in their actions? I'm trying to think, and I dont know if Im capable of feeling belonging. I can do 1-on-1, that makes sense and I can feel connection with a person. But in a group, belonging in a group, its not common experience for me. I dont know the last time I felt it.
There's always an awareness of my performativity. There's always a self censoring of my genuine thoughts and feelings, there's always the knowledge that my continued association with the group is dependent upon my falling within their acceptable parameters. Should I fail in that, should the degree of my existence that lies outside their acceptable parameters reach a critical threshold, I will be disposed of and no longer associated with.
Its really hard to feel safe enough to express my genuine thoughts and feelings. I just want to find people who I belong with, cause as it currently stands I feel deeply isolated from anyone and everyone when it comes to groups.
Anyway, I was in a large group of lesbians, trans and cis, last night. And I didn't feel like I didn't belong, but I did not feel any sense of belonging. A sea of faces that should have made me feel joy to look at, and instead I just feel fear and apprehension and uncertainty and distrust. I dont know what to do or how to perform, and its incredibly difficult for me. There's a reason I like people telling me what to do, it makes things clear, it makes things understandable.
I would really like to feel like I belong one day, for more than just a few weeks or a handful of months. It would be nice if it was along the lines of transness, but really just anything would be nice. Just a space where I dont have to perform and can be truly open and honest.
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GOOD post, and such a mood.