In the early 20th century, several countries actively developed seaplanes, and Russia became one of the leading centers in this field. Engineer Dmitry Pavlovich Grigorovich made a significant contribution to the development of flying amphibians. He graduated from the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute and began his career at the factory of the 'Russian Society of Aeronautics Shchetinin and Co,' where he served as technical director from 1912.

One day, Grigorovich was sent a French flying boat for repair. After studying its design, he decided to create his own seaplane. The task was not easy: in addition to aerodynamic qualities, the machine had to possess buoyancy, stability, and seaworthiness. At that time, other seaplanes were already being developed in Russia, and colleagues helped Grigorovich solve these challenges. His first model, M-1, was intended for reconnaissance and naval gunfire adjustment.

Later, Grigorovich created the M-9 bomber seaplane. Despite its large size, this amphibian achieved high speed and had good maneuverability. It was the first seaplane to successfully perform a loop. A true achievement was the M-11, the world's first seaplane fighter. The main test pilot was Alexander Seversky, who later emigrated and became the founder of a major aviation bureau and an advisor to the U.S. Department of Defense. The M-11 featured strong armor, which pilots particularly valued, although its speed was low. These fighters were used until the beginning of the Civil War.

Grigorovich continued his work even under the Bolsheviks until he was accused in 1928 under Article 58.7 for sabotage. He later worked in a sharashka, developing other aircraft. He was released in 1931, but a few years later, one of the leading developers of seaplanes passed away.