The prototype Sea Bird on the ramp outside the Fleetwings seaplane factory. The FAA serial number is confirmed by the log book of pilot William H. Engle whose first flight in it was on 25 March 1937. That and all subsequent flights were recorded as on X16793. The skin is 0.010 thick stainless steel and it has been given a swirl finish to make it look attractive. The wing and empennage structures are also made from stainless steel with fabric covering. Engine is a Jacobs L-5 giving 285 hp. The three-section landing gear fairing disappeared from photos from 1938 on, however this aircraft was seen at Oshkosh 1992 with fairings, although possibly not originals. Texas based as N16793 in 2024. Photo from: Alan Reddig via Tim Martin

Constructed of stainless steel. For a flying boat, this at least made some sense, avoiding any corrosion problems. The aircraft was certainly durable: this four-seat prototype, preserved at the Golden Wings Musem in Minnesota, was still reported to be flying once a year in 2015. Five F-5 five-seaters were also built. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

James Reddig, the designer of the stainless steel Sea Bird, was a member of the exclusive Long Island Aviation Country Club. NX16793, the four-seat prototype, went to a Canadian mining company as CF-BGZ in September 1937. This would confirm that some of Alfred Eisenstaedt's shots from Hicksville were taken in 1937, but he also seems to have visited in 1938 - see photo 654843. Photo by: Alfred Eisenstaedt / Life