CAMS 37

The CAMS 37 was a French 1920s biplane flying boat designed for military reconnaissance, but which found use in a wide variety of roles.

[1] It was a conventional biplane flying boat very similar to previous CAMS designs, being driven by a pusher propeller whose engine was mounted on struts in the interplane gap.

Trials were conducted by Compagnie Générale Transatlantique on the SS Île de France to evaluate operating catapult-launched mailplanes from transatlantic liners with two specially-built 37/10s.

René Guilbaud made a long-distance flight over Africa and the Mediterranean between 12 October 1927 and 9 March 1927, venturing as far as Madagascar before returning to Marseille.

The CAMS 37 was gradually withdrawn from front line duties in the mid-to-late 1930s, and when World War II started in September 1939, the aircraft had been relegated to training and communication roles.

Flown cover carried on the first US to Europe "catapult" air mail from the Ile de France at sea to Paris, August 23, 1928
CAMS 37 photo from Annuaire de L'Aéronautique 1931
CAMS 37GR photo from L'Aérophile December,1926
CAMS 37A 3-view drawing from L'Air October 1,1927