Students building & testing a single-person WIG "skimmer"

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by Aguirre, Oct 17, 2011.

  1. Aguirre
    Joined: Oct 2011
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    Aguirre Junior Member

    I'm sure most of you know the "skimmer" concept: http://www.gizmag.com/go/6864/

    Some students from Finland are taking on this pretty cool project, and they're already doing some tests on the water. Do check out their crash compilation video.

    Building & design blog (with videos):

    http://elmtech.eu/en/research-projects/elmer-x-1

    The crash compilation, which shows amazing strength of glass fiber (200g/m² glass fiber mat) and epoxy, which they pasted onto a polystyrene foam core:

    http://www.youtube.com/user/ElmTechDevelopment#p/u/1/GuMWfl_URIc

    If they obtain reasonable results someone (but who?) should attempt to build the "Skarver", which is both sexy and could be a new type of PWC of the future: http://www.boatdesign.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=10570

    Who will build the Skarver?
     

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  2. daiquiri
    Joined: May 2004
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    Location: Italy (Garda Lake) and Croatia (Istria)

    daiquiri Engineering and Design

    A more technically important question is: who or what will lift Skarver out of water?
    But, anyways, great styling. ;)

    About your project - good luck and take care of your backbone guys!
     
  3. Aguirre
    Joined: Oct 2011
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    Aguirre Junior Member

    Hi Daiquiri, just FYI this is not my project.

    I was just surprised to see that some students are actually building such a thing, which resembles the "skimmer" and the "skarver".

    From their design webpage it seems they're now testing electric motors. A bizarrely low-power, 3kW motor to be precise. This will not be enough. But I found out that the original Airfish 1, which flew hundreds of miles and tens of hours successfully, had an engine of only 13hp.

    Anyways, I just wanted to share this design project. It's not mine.
     
  4. Squidly-Diddly
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    Squidly-Diddly Senior Member

    wouldn't a tail keep it flying instead of flipping and crashing

    or would that spoil all the fun?
     
  5. Aguirre
    Joined: Oct 2011
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    Aguirre Junior Member


  6. Tim B
    Joined: Jan 2003
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    Tim B Senior Member

    Flying wings do work, but the CG needs to be further forward than they have it and it needs a fin and a good-size rudder. This smacks a little of the marine world trying to become airborne, instead of the aero world trying to build something that doesn't sink in water.

    Tim B.
     
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