The Wal all-metal flying-boat was a direct development of the Gs I of 1919 (which was broken-up) and the uncompleted Gs II. The prototype flew on 6 November 1922. Because of the Allied ban on German construction of this class of aeroplane, production was undertaken by GMASA in Italy with the first aircraft completed in 1923.
The Wal had a broad-beam two-step hull, strut-braced untapered parasol wing, sponsons, single fin and rudder and two engines in tandem above the centre section. Passenger, mail-carrier and military versions were produced with a wide range of engines of 223.6-559kW. There were four different wing spans and the maximum weight grew from about 4,000kg to 10,000kg. Wals were also built by Piaggio and in Japan, the Netherlands and Spain, and later in Germany. About 300 were built before production ceased in the mid-1930s.
Wals pioneered air services in South America, were widely used in the Mediterranean (with eight-ten seats) and, operating from depot ships, established Luft-Hansa's South Atlantic mail services.
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