3 ms·
Adding a hydrofoil is a cool idea but I'm not sure that plus electric propulsion qualifies it as that novel compared to the Ekranoplan which, two paragraphs lat
by taneq 4y ago
Adding a hydrofoil is a cool idea but I'm not sure that plus electric propulsion qualifies it as that novel compared to the Ekranoplan which, two paragraphs later, it describes as a 'proposed design' (also interesting wording for a vehicle with fully functional full scale prototypes). Ultimately the problem with ocean-going ground effect vehicles is that they combine the worst of both worlds; all the expense, fuel usage, load limitations and risk of a plane perpetually two seconds after takeoff, but still at the mercy of rough seas and weather like a boat.
Looking at their page, it looks like 'seaglider' is more like a model name than a vehicle classification. It's also interesting that they quote "over 325 sold with a $6bn order backlog" when they haven't even built a full sized working prototype yet. I guess they must cost $18 million each?
- dTal 4y ago>all the expense, fuel usage, load limitations and risk of a plane perpetually two seconds after takeoff Well not quite; the appeal of the ekranoplan is that it uses considerably less fuel and/or can carry considerably more weight than an aircraft of similar size. The risk profile is also different if catastrophic failure simply means you unexpectedly become a boat.
- taneq 4y agoIt's not perfectly analogous, I'll grant you... but at flight speed, even ground-effect flight speed, I think the consequences of hitting a larger than expected wave, or dipping a wing in the water after a gust of wind, are worse than just becoming a boat. (Maybe becoming what a boat would become if you dropped it from 2-3m at 100+mph...)