The Lohner flying boats

1 August 1914

Austria–Hungary begins aerial patrols of Adriatic

Austria–Hungary’s k.u.k. Kriegsmarine (Imperial and Royal Navy) has commenced seaplane patrols over the Adriatic from their base at Kumbor, on the Bay of Cattano. Three “Type E” flying boats have deployed there over the course of the last week, conveyed from their base at Pola aboard three battleships SMS Erzherzog Franz Ferdinand, SMS Radetzky, and SMS Zrínyi as the diplomatic situation with Serbia deteriorated.

These aeroplanes are produced for the navy by the Jacob Lohner Company of Vienna. A distinctive feature of the design is the long, pointed bow that gives it excellent sea handling characteristics. Note too the streamlined nacelle that encloses the flying boat’s single engine, and the swept wings that are a hallmark of the Lohner-Werke, all visible in the photograph below:

The Type E is the brainchild of the Lohner-Werke’s chief aeronautical engineer, Karl Paulal, and the firm delivered the first example to the Navy for evaluation last November. This was followed into service by another four examples in May. The three machines currently operating from Kumbor are all from this batch.

Second Austro–Hungarian army aviation company mobilises

Yesterday, a second Fliegerkompanie of the Austro–Hungarian army  mobilised against Serbia. FliK 4, commanded by Oberleutnant Matthias Bernáth, joins Flik 5, which mobilised three days ago.