A German Long‐Range Seaplane: The Blohm und Voss Ha 139 Float Seaplane Used on the Experimental Trans‐Atlantic Service

ALTHOUGH the two prototypes of the Blohm und Voss Ha 139 were first flown in 1937, the machine has never received much attention and, in view of its present topicality, it seems an opportune moment to describe it. Ostensibly the Ha 139 was designed and built, like the Dornier Do 26, for the experimental German air mail services across the North and South Atlantic. In view of the present situation, although it has long been realized that these experiments were actually of a military nature, further point is lent to their venue, as the operators of the service must have gained considerable knowledge of the prevailing weather conditions, not only over the British convoy routes, but also on the routes to America generally.