"Royal Naval Air Service, Pre-1914" Front view of Commander Charles Samson of the Royal Naval Air Service modified Shorts S.38 "hydro-aeroplane on slipway of HMS HIBERNIA. The S.38 T.2 aircraft had air-bag floats to enable landing on water and was launched via a trolley-shuttle system off of a ramp which stretched from Hibernia's bridge to bow, over her forward 12 inch guns. Commander Samson was to be the first pilot to take off from a ship underway at sea.