Felixstowe Porte Baby

John C. Porte, commander of the Felixstowe naval air stations, began experiments to improve the Curtiss H-4 flying boat in 1914. Using that experience, he designed a large three-engine flying boat, dubbed with a sense of irony the Porte Baby. Ten Babies were built by Airco's subsidiary May, Harden, and May. They were flown out of Felixstowe and Killingholme and at least one was still flying in October 1918. They were relatively slow and maneuverable, though, easy prey for German seaplanes, and by October 1917 it was decided not to fly them without escort of Curtiss H-12 or Felixstowe F.2A flying boats.

In one experiment, a Bristol Scout was mounted to the top wing of a Porte Baby and launched from an altitude of 1000' over Harwich.