The ENAIRE Foundation presents 'Flyingboat. La Aeronáutica Naval en Barcelona’ [Flyingboat. Naval Aviation in Barcelona]

Faithful to its commitment to preserving and popularising Spain's historical aviation heritage, the ENAIRE Foundation is publishing, in collaboration with La Fábrica, 'Flyingboat. La Aeronáutica Naval en Barcelona', an essential book to understand the origins of aviation in Spain.

Published in Spanish and Catalan, the book brings together more than 260 aeronautical images from the 1920s and 30s in Barcelona, and blends historical rigour with accessibility. It is aimed at a wide audience, from specialists to photography aficionados.

The Flyingboat was one of the Navy's most important aircraft and the largest in use in Spain until the 1940s. Taken as a whole, Flyingboat is more than a book; it restores our collective memory of a forgotten time.

A time when the Spanish Navy's hydroplanes operated in the waters of the port of Barcelona. The 1920s and 30s witnessed flights, feats and the efforts made by its crews and mechanics to keep their aircraft operational, despite adversity and a lack of resources. Those years were witness to the operations of the first Spanish aircraft carrier, the "Dédalo", and to flights from today's Josep Tarradelellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, then known as "sailors' field". They saw the port being used as an international air transport terminal for passengers from France and Italy, as well as the construction of hydroplanes in the port itself, confirming the city's link to aviation from the first flights there in 1910.

Illustrated with more than 260 photographs from public and private institutions, private collections and family archives, many of them never before published and that would otherwise have never come to light, the book, published in partnership with La Fábrica, is the result of long and exhaustive research by its authors, David Gesalí (degree in History from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and a Master's in Social Science Education) and David Íñiguez (degree in Art History and PhD in Social Science Education from the University of Barcelona). Both have a long track record specialising in publications on Spanish aviation from the 1920s and 30s. Their in-depth knowledge of the subject allows them to recognise places, aircraft and people from the pioneering days of aviation in Catalonia, including photographs of aircraft never before correctly identified. For example, photographs of the hydroplanes manufactured by the Navy in the port and confirmation of their types and series, an unpublished image from 1913 of the "Álvarez-Condé" hydroplane, and the new Parnall Panther, undoubtedly the best extant photo of this rare fighter aircraft.

At 340 pages, Flyingboat is published in Spanish and Catalan. The publication will be available in book stores in Spain and on Amazon, at a price of 28 euros.

About the authors

Proof of the quality of the work of these two historians, who specialise in aviation history, is their twenty-one years working together. They have written a dozen joint publications and, overall, have more than thirty works, all about military history with a special emphasis on aeronautics. Over the course of their activities, they have published numerous papers in academic journals and popular magazines, they have taken part in international conferences and congresses, and they have curated thematic exhibitions on aviation. Their background in heritage and museum outreach programmes has led them to work on opening various historical spaces related to the history of aviation during Spain's Civil War.

DAVID ÍÑIGUEZ GRACIA

He is a historian and researcher at the University of Barcelona, with a PhD in Social Science and Heritage Education. He is a member of the DIDPATRI (Heritage Education) Research Group at the University of Barcelona, and he has authored over 15 books on the Spanish Civil War, as well as cooperated in various collective works and written several articles and prologues. He is an associate professor at the University of Barcelona and a researcher at the Association of Republican Aviators, ADAR.

DAVID GESALÍ BARRERA

He is a historian and researcher at the University of Barcelona, and has a Master's in Social Science and Heritage Education. He is a member of the DIDPATRI (Heritage Education) Research Group at the University of Barcelona, and he has authored over 12 books on the Spanish Civil War, as well as cooperated in various collective works and written several articles and prologues. He is a researcher at the Association of Republican Aviators, ADAR, and he has recently been appointed a corresponding member of CASHYCEA.

About ENAIRE

ENAIRE is the air navigation service provider in Spain.

As a company of the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and the Urban Agenda, it provides en route control services for all flights and overflights from five control centres in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Gran Canaria and Palma, as well as approach services to every airport in the country.

In addition, 45 control towers receive ENAIRE's communication, navigation and surveillance services, and 21 airports, including the country's busiest, rely on its aerodrome control services.

ENAIRE is the fourth most important European air navigation service provider, and, in a clear commitment to the Single Sky initiative, belongs to international partnerships such as SESAR Joint Undertaking, SESAR Deployment Manager, A6 Alliance, iTEC, CANSO and ICAO.

ENAIRE is the official provider of aeronautical information in Spain.