What was titled the Royal Naval Air Service in 1912 had already been experimenting with aircraft in various ways, but with the emphasis on floatplanes rather than wheeled designs. However, around 1912 a Cdr. Samson had already demonstrated the viability of take-offs from warships, when he flew a Short S27 off several warships with adapted foredecks. The operation of floatplanes was regularly indulged in by the Royal Navy, up to and including World War 1. Many were flown directly from their parent warship using recoverable wheel-trolleys that allowed for an easier take-off than was possible when taking off from the sea. On return, the vessel's derrick would lift the aircraft back on board. The sizeable wingspan of some of the floatplanes dictated the need for their wings to be folded in order for their proper stowage on board. (During 1913 the cruiser HERMES had conducted experiments involving the fore-going principles that proved their viability; this warship was sunk shortly after World War I began).
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