All three were unequal-span pusher biplane flying boats with a single step hull with ash longerons covered in laminated plywood, divided by bulkheads into eight compartments.

[1] The design originated with patents by Donnet-Lévêque and initially reflected the general configuration of that company's aircraft.

The earliest examples sold entered service with the Austro-Hungarian Navy and Danish Navy prior to World War I, but large-scale use began with sales to the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) who initially ordered 20 Type B's from Norman-Thompson before receiving additional Type Cs from France.

The French Aéronautique Maritime, and Italian Navy followed with orders for Type Bs and Cs in 1915.

The FBA flying boats were used for naval patrols and frequently encountered their opposing German and Austro-Hungarian Navy counterparts which led to some being converted to single seaters armed with a machine gun.