The Curtiss Model H is a family of long-range patrol flying boats, most common ASW/SAR flying boats in WWI. The prototype was privately developed after 1913 £10,000 prize challenge by the Daily Mail for a first non-stop aerial crossing of the Atlantic. It became a pioneer of early international commercial air travel, fuelling the birth of commercial aviation, but also was the first of a long lineage of military flying boats, also influencing the British Felixtowe series. Both had common development roots. Overall, 3 main models of the Curtiss H were produced, other staying at prototype or paper stage. The last was the Model H-16 (6C), of which 334 made by Curtiss and Naval Aircraft Factory. Both the H-16 and H-12 were in RNAS and USN service.
