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 spoiler Yeah... I dont understand why queer people/queer spaces/queerness in general is so alienating for me. I dont feel like I fit there. Honestly, half of it is wanting to fit there. Also I'm godawful tall, like, head and shoulders above the crowd, so there's more attention on me. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't anxiety about being known. Dont fuck up anything, or say anything embarrassing, or reveal what a mess you are, cause everyone will remember you. I have that 2x rep perk, cause I'm just so memorable
I dont like the uncertainty of social interactions. At least with cis het men there's a rulebook I can follow. Its a pretty dogshit rulebook and sucks ass and I want to go home and cry after needing to follow it, but its there. Queer spaces everyone says "be yourself" but there's way more to it than that, with caveats and gotchas. Besides, I dont even know myself. How can I be who I dont know? "Be loud and proud!" but when I raise my voice I can see how everyones view of me shifts (and its not in a good way, with the sideeyeing and whatnot).
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For me, I think part of my problem was my own insecurities about my identity. I happened to meet them basically right as I realized I wasn't cis in some way at almost 30yos but was still trying to figure out what that meant and was quickly changing what labels I thought did or did not apply to me, so I was more worry about being seen as fake due to my own uncertainty. Either I continue as I have been and just seem like a cis guy or I try out knew things and feel like I'm trying just playing a different roll (even if it was actually the opposite). Now I think I'm a lot more self-confident in my identity that I don't think it would be nearly as much of an issue, but I'm still just a coward about presenting how I would like and also don't know what that even would be still (and won't ever know unless I actually try new things....).