Is it a hovercraft? or Is it a Plane?
No, it's the Chinese CYG-11 craft that can fly or 'float' on a cushion of air above the sea
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- Two prototype aircraft were tested off the coast of Haikou, in the Hainan Province of China
- The CYG-11 plane can reach a top speed of 155mph and boasts a maximum range of 930 miles
- The super-efficient craft uses increased lift and reduced drag from its wings to fly 16ft (5m) above thewaves
It looks like a cross between a catamaran and a hovercraft, but these strange vehicles are actually new new type of aircraft developed in China.
Two prototypes of the CYG-11 seaplane were tested this week over the sea off the coast of Haikou in Hainan Province in China.
The aircraft is believed to be a joint project between Russia and China to build new types of super-efficient seaplane.
The vehicles takes advantage of an aerodynamic phenomenon known as the wing-in-ground effect - where lift is increased and drag decreased when an aircraft's wings are close to the ground.
CYG-11 VITAL STATISTICS
Length: 13m
Wingspan: 15.6 m
Weight: 3800 kg
Seats: 12 people
Maximum load: 1200 kg
Maximum range: 1500 km
Flight speed: 175 - 250 km/h
Flight height: 3-5 m
Wave height: 1.25 - 3 m
By placing the wings low on the fuselage of the aircraft, this effect is increased and the the result is an aircraft that essentially floats on a cushion of air.
Engineers behind the CNY 5 billion (£500 million) project say the aircraft are capable of flying 62 miles (100 km) on 28 litres of fuel.
With a maximum range of 930 miles (1,500 km), the aircraft can reach a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).
The aircraft races over the wavetops at a height of between three to five metres (9-15 feet).
The CYG-11 aircraft, which have been developed by the Hainan Yingge Wing in Ground Effect Craft Manufacturing Company with Russian engineers, can carry 10 passengers plus two flight crew.
The company claims to have just finished building a larger version of the aircraft capable of carrying 40 people, but it hopes to develop bigger aircraft capable of carrying between 55 and 120 passengers.
It says the aircraft could find uses for coastal defence, customs patrols and perhaps even be used as the public transport of the future along 'marine highways'.
Gu Jianxin, a spokesman for the company, told the Southern Metropolis Daily: 'The current technology research and development has matured into mass production.
'The main plan is to invest in tourism, freight , maritime search and rescue and other aspects.'
The aircraft (above) is designed to fly at low level between 3 m and 5 m above the surface of the ocean
He estimates that it will cost around $20 million dollars for each vessel.
Powered by two large propellers at the front of the aircraft, the CYG-11 can be driven in the sea much like a catamaran.
Once it reaches flight speed the aircraft's wings will begin to lift it off the ocean and it will glide along on a cushion of air.
Huang Dong, one of the pilots who flew the aircraft during the tests, said: 'It felt like when you ride a motorboat then the feeling is just as comfortable as sitting on a plane. There are no boat bumps.'
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Posted by: SKumar <sreekumar949@yahoo.in>
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