The Blackburn 2F.1 Nautilus was a British flying boat designed and built by Blackburn Aircraft Limited in the 1920s. Introduced in 1923, the Nautilus served as a reconnaissance and patrol aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It was part of a series of Blackburn flying boats developed during the interwar.
The Blackburn 2F.1 Nautilus had a distinctive twin-hull design with a central nacelle suspended between the hulls. It featured an open cockpit for the crew and was powered by a Rolls-Royce Falcon water-cooled engine. The Nautilus was armed with a forward-firing machine gun and had provisions for carrying bombs for anti-submarine and maritime patrol missions.
While the Nautilus contributed to the maritime reconnaissance capabilities of the RAF and RAAF during its operational years, it eventually became outdated as aviation technology advanced. The Nautilus represents an early era in naval aviation, showcasing the development of flying boats for maritime reconnaissance and patrol purposes between the World Wars.