The golden age of seaplanes began with the Dornier Wal, or ‘whale’, developed by Dornier Flugzeugwerke, a German aircraft manufacturer founded in Friedrichshafen by Claude Dornier.

The all-metal craft was powered by two engines, arranged in tandem on top of its high-mounted parasol wing, and could carry 12 passengers. Its range was limited, so on longer routes, like the South American one, it was met by a ship halfway along the route, winched onboard, refuelled and then catapulted on its way again (pictured).

Luxury seaplanes, also known as flying boats, were a popular mode of travel in the 1930s. They offered all the accoutrements of sailing on a beautifully appointed ocean liner, like private sleeping rooms, fine dining, and white-gloved service, but got you to your destination in a fraction of the time.

Click through the gallery to see a selection of the most opulent of these ‘palaces of the air’ as well as a few of their modern equivalents…

1923: Dornier Wal

See stunning retro photos of seaplanes through history