Helicopters / Seaplanes on Yachts

Comming to a superyact near you,in a few more years. The current models have transition and directional control problems. I beleive the technology exists to solve these but just not in the public domain yet.

Passengers: 4 ( 2 passenger pictured)
Top speed @ 13,200 ft: 375 mph
Cruise speed @ 20,000 ft: 275 mph
Maximum rate of climb: 6,000 fpm
Maximum range: 750 miles
Payload excluding fuel: 750 lbs
Operational ceiling: 36,000 ft
Gross weight: 2,400 lbs
Engine power (2 min. rating): 1,200 hp
Fuel consumption: approx. 20 mpg
Fuel: Ethanol
Dimensions (LxWxH): 19.5' x 8.5' x 7.5'
Takeoff and landing area: 35 ft dia
Noise level at 500 ft (Goal): 65 dba
Vertical takeoff and landing: yes
Emergency parachutes: yes

http://media.moller.com/FoldingWings-320WebMovie.mp4

http://media.moller.com/RotatingNacelles-320WebMovie.mp4


This 4 pax model has hovered on a tether for safety.

If this thread gets any more off course, we're gonna run into a reef.

Let's stick to seaplanes vs. helis. Wing In Ground Effect vehicles are not good options. They're fine for heavy transport at high speeds, but not a good choice for varying terrain. As for Paul Moller's car... it can't land on water.

My memory is failing ,some where I read a thread that speed and range were the primary parameters . Sorry, you can move it or delete if you want.
Walt

The m400 is a Vtol (4 PAX )..........could land any where a heli does .

This it's not science fiction,just not a mature technology yet.

Walt,

Yes, the technology is real with the M-400, but it's not intended to land on water. Maybe at some point, sometime... if production ever ramps up, they may address this issue. It takes a LOT of rotory HP to get this thing off the ground. Any added weight, such as floats, would hinder performance substantially. Any appendages (such as floats) would also effect aerodynamics under the main body, even though the nacelles are providing lift too.

I've followed Paul Mollers work for nearly 20 years. I too, hope this comes to pass. Let's get back to the thread title and hope one day, we will be including the M-400 in the line-up of air transport tenders.

Ah, cut us a little slack Carl. That Flarecraft looks like a great toy! And less wingspan than a conventional seaplane?

flip Kelly

Innovation that counts

OK I know we got of topic here but if there main idea is to get from the Yacht to the shore as quick as possible then Moller car and WIG are not such a bad idea, more importantly these are disruptive technologies and usually the people who develop them need a bit of help to get off the ground (pardon the pun). I'd like to hope that certian yacht owners are willing to put a bit of their hard earned cash into such technologies to take advantage of their benefits and of course to be that bit more special. Besides a WIG is just a Seaplane which flies close to the ground and if your lucky does not need the aviation type of certification.

Ok enough promotion, what I really wanted to do was to stimulate a bit of discussion on this type of thing, perhaps it belongs to the toys section?

All Im going to say is if you can afford your own SpaceShipOne, I would think you would have a couple flying cars in the garage.

I agree with you guys. I'm all about new innovations too, so I'll chill-out.

I still think practical range and payload would be the overriding factors. So long as the helicopter has enough of both, it's the obvious choice. Besides easier ship handling the chopper would also have the safety advantage. Correct me if wrong, but more folks survive an engine out on choppers than planes?

Kelly

This perhaps is a solution to the problem!??

a chopper with the performance of a turboprop-plane!! (VTOL aircraft)

Didn't find any specs of those though, but I think there is a few different models on the market allready (range from 2seats and up...)

If they could build a big one with a Yacht-friendly folding wing, they most likely could build the small one like that to

Not to mention frightful expense!

AgustaWestland BA609








Weights
Max take Off 7631 kg 16800 lb
Max Useful Load 2500 kg 5512 lb
Engine Rating (2 x Pratt & Whitney PT6C-67A)
Take Off 1252 kW 1679 SHP
Maximum continuous 1142 kW 1531 SHP
Crew - Pilot / Passengers 2 / 9
Max cruise speed 509 km/h 275 kts
Rate of climb n.a. m/s n.a. ft/min
Operational ceiling 7760 m 25000 ft
Max Range 1389 km 750 NM
Cabin pressurization 5.5 psi

More width but parhaps less length. often the length (clearance of the rotorblades) is the limit! But only the ocean is the limit sideways

The weight is another aspect... I didn't find any numbers on Bell's hompage!? But it feels like a chopper weigh less than 7000kg???

Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey

Take-off weights:
47,500 lb Vertical Takeoff/Landing (VTOL)
55,000 lb Short Takeoff/Landing (STOL)
60,500 lb Self Deploy STO

That's the BIG VTOL-toy!!
I was talking about weights of ordinary Yacht-choppers.