In the spirit of December, the month that TWO AMERICANS invented the practical airplane (aeroplane) we will call it what we like.And since we crossed the atlantic in a FLYING BOAT before anyone else in an aeroplane, we will use OUR nomenclature.
On the other hand, if we didn't have British people, would we even have pprune? I think not. ;-)
and OP CANDRAS, hope you see that film,
"flight from ashia"
And wasn't it a lend lease PBY Catalina, being FLOWN BY A US NAVY Ensign that spotted the Bismark?