Franco-British Aviation (FBA)

Slagorde · Vliegtuigfabrikanten · Frankrijk

Franco-British Aviation (FBA)

Hydravions Louis Schreck FBA

A company registered in London but building in Argenteuil turned out small flying boats by the hundred for four navies in the First World War, then sold 348 of its FBA 17 in peacetime.

1913Opgericht
Defunct 1934Status
6Vliegtuigen geregistreerd
1Luchtmachteenheden die met dit type vliegtuigen vliegen
Foto: Alan Wilson uit Peterborough, Cambs, VK / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
LandFrankrijkOpgericht1913OprichtersLouis Schreck, André BeaumontHoofdkwartierArgenteuil, near ParisStatusDefunct 1934
Het verhaal

Franco-British Aviation (FBA): the company and the aircraft that made its name

London paper, Paris hulls

Franco-British Aviation was founded in London in 1913, but its heart was always on the Seine. Its technical director was Louis Schreck, who ran the French subsidiary at Argenteuil, and its co-founder was the aviator André Beaumont. The firm’s first piece of work was a flying-boat hull derived from the Donnet-Lévêque designs, and from it grew the FBA Type A of 1913, sometimes called the FBA-Lévêque.

Flying boats for four navies

The war made FBA. It produced large numbers of small flying boats for the navies of France, Russia, Italy and Britain, single-engine pusher boats for coastal patrol and anti-submarine work. The Type B of 1915 ran to 150 examples and the Type C of 1916 to at least 78. After the Armistice the company was reorganised as a purely French concern, Hydravions Louis Schreck FBA, and in 1922 Émile Paumier became technical director.

The FBA 17 and the end

Peace brought FBA its biggest seller. The FBA 17 of 1923 was sold in quantity, 348 being built, and was licence-built in the United States as the Viking; FBA boats served from Brazil and Portugal to Poland and Denmark. But civil orders dried up. Production stopped in 1931, the FBA 310 of 1930 managing only nine examples, and in 1934 the workshops were sold to the Société des Avions Bernard, which itself failed in 1935.

A company registered in London but building in Argenteuil turned out small flying boats by the hundred for four navies in the First World War, then sold 348 of its FBA 17 in peacetime.Franco-British Aviation (FBA) · verified 2026-10-03
In één oogopslag

Franco-British Aviation (FBA) in numbers

Het bedrijf

Kortom
Opgericht in 1913

  • Registered in London, built at Argenteuil
  • Founded by Louis Schreck and André Beaumont
  • Reorganised as Hydravions Louis Schreck FBA after WWI

Productie

Het meest bekend om
FBA Type B, C, 17

  • 150 Type B, 1915
  • At least 78 Type C, 1916
  • 348 FBA 17 from 1923

Vandaag

Nu
Opgeheven

  • Production ended 1931
  • Workshops sold to Avions Bernard, 1934

De cijfers

FBA 17 built
348
Type B built
150
Het vliegtuig

Every notable Franco-British Aviation (FBA) aircraft

FBA Type BPatrol flying boat · first flight 1915 · 150 built

Photos: Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Vliegtuig Rol Eerste vlucht Gebouwd Status Opmerking
FBA Type A Vliegende boot 1913 Gepensioneerd Also called FBA-Lévêque
FBA Type B Patrouille-vliegboot 1915 150 Gepensioneerd
FBA Type C Patrouille-vliegboot 1916 78+ Gepensioneerd
FBA 17 Training and utility flying boat 1923 348 Gepensioneerd Licence-built in the US as the Viking
FBA 19 Vliegende boot 1924 Gepensioneerd
FBA 310 Cabin flying boat 1930 9 Gepensioneerd
Wie vliegt ermee?

Franco-British Aviation (FBA) aircraft in the world’s air forces

1 air forces in the Order of Battle fly or flew Franco-British Aviation (FBA) types. Geen van hen heeft er nog een in gebruik.

Luchtmacht In dienst Voorheen gevlogen
Portugese luchtmacht FBA Type B vliegboot
Plaatsen, mensen, archieven

Where Franco-British Aviation (FBA) built, who led it, what it achieved

Fabrieken

  • Argenteuil works · Argenteuil, Val-d’Oise — Main production site near Paris

Mensen

  • Louis Schreck · co-founder, technical director — Ran the Argenteuil operation
  • André Beaumont · co-founder, aviator
  • Émile Paumier · technical director from 1922
Tijdlijn

Franco-British Aviation (FBA), year by year

1913

Founded in London; Type A flying boat

1915

Type B enters production (150 built)

1916

Type C introduced

1922

Émile Paumier becomes technical director

1923

FBA 17 introduced (348 built)

1931

Production ceases for lack of civil orders

1934

Workshops sold to Avions Bernard

Vragen en antwoorden

Everything people ask about Franco-British Aviation (FBA)

Was Franco-British Aviation British or French?
It was registered in London in 1913 but built its aircraft at Argenteuil near Paris, and became purely French after the First World War.
What did FBA build?
Small single-engine flying boats, notably the Types B and C in the First World War and the FBA 17 in the 1920s.
Which navies used FBA flying boats?
France, Russia, Italy and Britain in the First World War, and later many others including Brazil, Portugal, Poland and Denmark.
What happened to FBA?
Production stopped in 1931 and the workshops were sold to Avions Bernard in 1934.

Vervolg de rondleiding

Around Franco-British Aviation (FBA)

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Geverifieerd op 3 oktober 2026.