model ekranoplan
Discussion
Does anyone know what the rules are for needing a pilots licence for a single-seater version of one of these things?
It would be really handy where I am, both for recreational use and to avoid 150 mile round trips around the Wash, when I could skip over to Boston or Skeggy in a few minutes.
It would be really handy where I am, both for recreational use and to avoid 150 mile round trips around the Wash, when I could skip over to Boston or Skeggy in a few minutes.
Daniel at rctestflight is the brains behind this with the other company piggybacking off his talent and using it to demonstrate what is essentially hobby grade kit with a shiney suit on.
One of my fave you tube channels showing what can be done with what is cheap readily available autonomous electronics
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3heh9swH2Zw&t=78...
Although I would rather a big russian version!
One of my fave you tube channels showing what can be done with what is cheap readily available autonomous electronics
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3heh9swH2Zw&t=78...
Although I would rather a big russian version!
shedweller said:
Daniel at rctestflight is the brains behind this with the other company piggybacking off his talent and using it to demonstrate what is essentially hobby grade kit with a shiney suit on.
One of my fave you tube channels showing what can be done with what is cheap readily available autonomous electronics
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3heh9swH2Zw&t=78...
Although I would rather a big russian version!
He's very clever, well worth a watch. One of my fave you tube channels showing what can be done with what is cheap readily available autonomous electronics
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3heh9swH2Zw&t=78...
Although I would rather a big russian version!
The Russians had problems with ekranoplans and I don't see what this does to resolve the same issues? Namely they needed a huge amount of power to get out the water and then performed badly on choppy water.
Simpo Two said:
Which along with other shipping would be at considerable risk from some unqualified herbert flying his ekranoplan across it at 70mph...!
Yes, you're right. Damned hard things to spot and avoid, these ships. The wind turbines are even worse - the b
ds just jump out in front of you with no warning.I've driven hydroplanes on Windermere (pre-speed limit, obviously) at over 100 miles per hour without difficulty, though, and that's a tad more congested than the Wash.
saaby93 said:
If those are registered as a boat .....
How long does a car need to be in the air before it's deemed to be a plane?
Conversely, what about hovercraft... they are effectively completely airborne in ground effect, too (our local coastguard uses one on the Wash, and has so far managed to avoid colliding with any local shipping or offshore wind turbines, although obviously I recognise that they are highly trained experts)? How long does a car need to be in the air before it's deemed to be a plane?
Or a fast hydroplane, that is often 'flying' on a cushion of air with just its propeller hub in the water at high speed.
Where do you draw the line between a hovercraft and a 'drone' type multi-rotor?
Common sense would suggest that it should depend on whether it is capable of working beyond ground effect, but is the legislation drawn in the same place?
Equus said:
Common sense would suggest that it should depend on whether it is capable of working beyond ground effect, but is the legislation drawn in the same place?
AIUI that is exactly where the CAA draw the line; surface/ground effect craft are not aeroplanes and not regulated by them, once a craft can climb above ground effect in sustained flight it is an aeroplane and they take a keen interest in you and the craft in order to prevent unpleasantness and to extract their pound of flesh.Equus said:
Conversely, what about hovercraft... they are effectively completely airborne in ground effect, too (our local coastguard uses one on the Wash, and has so far managed to avoid colliding with any local shipping or offshore wind turbines, although obviously I recognise that they are highly trained experts)?
Go for the best of both worlds, there's a few companies that make hovercraft ekranoplanes, seems like a reasonably sensible idea as it massively reduces the drag when accelerating to takeoff speeds.https://www.hovercraft.com/content/index.php?main_...
Yeah, the takeoff power thing was always a limit on the big stuff, and you can see there's always a lot of lift augmentation going on.
The hovercraft WIG ideas seem to work - but they don't look quite right either, do they.
I wondered if a combination of a modern stepped hull design on the planing surfaces, combined with a hybrid powertrain could solve the problem.
So a pack of batteries provide extra power for thrust at lift off and once airborne you're back on the internal combustion engine, of which you bleed off some of the power to charge the batteries again.
The hovercraft WIG ideas seem to work - but they don't look quite right either, do they.
I wondered if a combination of a modern stepped hull design on the planing surfaces, combined with a hybrid powertrain could solve the problem.
So a pack of batteries provide extra power for thrust at lift off and once airborne you're back on the internal combustion engine, of which you bleed off some of the power to charge the batteries again.
RizzoTheRat said:
Go for the best of both worlds, there's a few companies that make hovercraft ekranoplanes, seems like a reasonably sensible idea as it massively reduces the drag when accelerating to takeoff speeds.
https://www.hovercraft.com/content/index.php?main_...
Who would spend $190,000 on something which looks like it was by a man in a shed! https://www.hovercraft.com/content/index.php?main_...
saaby93 said:
Why do these things begin on water?
Why not go from solid ground to air?
Because inconsiderately the land is mostly not flat so staying in ground effect results in you interfacing with trees, buildings, radio masts, cliffs etc. Water is mostly flat at a macro level and there are none of the above, just the occasional ship.Why not go from solid ground to air?
Condi said:
RizzoTheRat said:
Go for the best of both worlds, there's a few companies that make hovercraft ekranoplanes, seems like a reasonably sensible idea as it massively reduces the drag when accelerating to takeoff speeds.
https://www.hovercraft.com/content/index.php?main_...
Who would spend $190,000 on something which looks like it was by a man in a shed! https://www.hovercraft.com/content/index.php?main_...
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