The US Navy Curtiss MF flying boat diorama at the National Naval Aviation Museum

The subsequent post shows a full scale Curtiss F model flying boat biplane at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre in New Zealand, pre 1918 vintage. The National Naval Aviation Museum near Pensacola (actually, within the Pensacola NAS) has a full scale diorama of the slightly improved Curtiss MF (for modernized F) flying boat. The major visual differences are the modification from biplane to sesquiplane, ailerons relocated to the upper wing (greater leverage than on the lower wing as well as wing sponson) and a different engine (Hispano-Suiza Model 8A) which increased the output by another 40 hp over the Model F’s Curtiss OXX-3.

Full scale diorama showing a Curtiss MF flying boat (circa post 1918) out of the water in a cradle—Joseph May/Travel for Aircraft

Full scale diorama showing a Curtiss MF flying boat (circa post 1918)—Joseph May/Travel for Aircraft

Full scale diorama showing a Curtiss MF flying boat (circa post 1918) and note the uneven wing spans (making this a sesquiplane), wing sponsons and upper ailerons as compared to the F model—Joseph May/Travel for Aircraft

Full scale diorama showing a Curtiss MF flying boat (circa post 1918)—Joseph May/Travel for Aircraft

Full scale diorama showing a Curtiss MF flying boat (circa post 1918)—Joseph May/Travel for Aircraft

Full scale diorama showing a Curtiss MF flying boat Hispano-Suiza Model 8A reciprocating internal combustion V-8 engine (circa post 1918)—Joseph May/Travel for Aircraft

Full scale diorama closer view of the Hispano-Suiza Model 8A engine in the Curtiss MF flying boat (circa post 1918)—Joseph May/Travel for Aircraft

Full scale diorama closer cockpit view of the Curtiss MF flying boat (circa post 1918)—Joseph May/Travel for Aircraft