Vintage flying boat to go on sale

The 1917 Curtiss MF Seagull Flying Boat is the highlight of the sale at Bonhams.
Sourced from the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland, Ohio, the flying boat will is designed by Glenn H Curtiss. As part of the celebrations surrounding the auction, the aircraft will be on public view in the Sculpture Garden Atrium from April 3 to 13.

Rupert Banner, specialist in-charge of the sale, says, "This fantastic Curtiss Flying Boat provides a fitting opening for the sale of vintage aircraft in New York, and it joins an illustrious list of aviation marques that Bonhams has recently offered, including two of the most recognisable and famous aircraft of the 20th century, the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire."

Curtiss was a true aviation pioneer, and was an archrival of the Wright Brothers. They may have flown first, but Curtiss flew the first-ever public flight, and went on to win awards and aviation distinctions across America and Europe during the first years of manned flight.
He was fascinated with flying boats and would later became to be known as the Father of Naval Aviation.

The MF was first developed in 1917 from the original F model, a Curtiss flying boat design the United States Navy had been using since 1912/13.
Standing for 'Modernised F-boat' (MF), it proved an excellent trainer and by 1921 87 MFs were in service with the Navy.