Advantage: a considerable reduction in hydraulic drag and therefore in transport performance! In 2009, record at 92 km / h!
For me it's greener than PlanetSolar: https://www.econologie.com/forums/planetsola ... 11783.html (sailboat without sail ...)
The 2 technologies could surely be combined!
1st flight of the new "Hydroptère DCNS Dragon Rouge" model took place at the beginning of May: http://hydroptere.com/fr/les-actualites/les-breves/
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
A first flight that will take your breath away
Great reward yesterday afternoon for the entire Hydroptère DCNS team. A first symbolic flight in the harbor of La Ciotat took place in front of a crowd of French pavilions gathered on the quays during the May 8 celebrations.
By 15 - 20 knots of established wind, south, south-east orientation, and under a mixed sky alternating covered and cleared passages, the Hydrofoil DCNS started its runs with a reduced airfoil before operating a progressive increase in power.
Under the authority of two co-skippers Alain Thébault and Jacques Vincent, accompanied by all of the technicians who participated in the winter construction site, these first tests demonstrated a gain in downwind performance of around 10%. For almost two hours, the flying fish oscillated between 25 and 30 knots of speed with a peak recorded at 37 knots.
Jacques Vincent comments: “This first outing was important, the objective was to test the placement of the rigging and sails following the launch on Friday. We are very satisfied with the result. We also appreciated the work done on the foils. The profiles are tolerant with a very smooth passage in the swell. Three of the main changes to the platform have already been validated: the change in hydraulic mechanisms (steering and mainsail system), the new sail plan and the profiles of the foils. "
"I would like to congratulate the whole team as well as our partners and service providers," adds Alain Thébault. “They did an exceptional job in record time. We still have a lot of points to test but we already know that the new configuration makes it possible to spin 30 knots at 140 ° of the wind through 15 - 20 knots established, this is a good omen for Honolulu. It is also very impressive to see the Gennaker moored on a 4m bowsprit, we have a version of the Hydroptère which combines the common sense of the old navy and the technologies of tomorrow, I really like it. ”
This Wednesday, another decisive element for the record focuses all the attention. The tail stabilization system developed by DCNS engineers is being installed and will be tested very soon on the water.
Luc Alphand, who was making his first flight aboard the flying trimaran this Tuesday, concluded: "An exceptional first navigation, both radically new and at the same time very close to the sensations I have experienced in the past: the very high speed and the wind that whips your face for skiing; the wave jump, the trajectories and the jerks like the Dakar; and of course the whole marine environment already encountered during my training on DCNS 1000.
Info: http://www.hydroptere.com/
Small history video: http://www.lesfilieresdutalent.com/ (at the bottom left)
ps: not to be confused with the Flying Dutchman!