In the video, it looks like it is fly above the typical ground effect height (1 wingspan or less).
It flies within 0.5-1 wingspan. The subscale has been flying within half a wingspan.
Regent – Electric coastal travel
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Re: Regent – Electric coastal travel
#42[deleted]
Re: Regent – Electric coastal travel
#43What are the operating limits in terms of weather? At only 10m above the surface, I assume bad things could happen in stormy conditions! I'm guessing these will be best suited to sheltered areas and fair-weather tourist operations?
It has three modes of operation: hull, hydrofoil and flight in ground effect. So it can operate as a slow boat, a fast boat or a ground effect plane. I imagine in bad weather it would switch to a slower mode.
With regard to waves you'll have a much harder time in slow modes as compared to WIG. Soviet (large) ekranoplanes could take off with 1.5 and continue flight in 5 meter waves. Gale force winds is another story.
Re: Regent – Electric coastal travel
#44[dead]
Re: Regent – Electric coastal travel
#45Earlier quoted context omitted.
There are rules of the road for seafaring which apply even to these types of craft. A sailboat usually wins over a powered craft.
so if a sailboat suddenly veers into the path of this thing, what is it going to do? Collide or ditch "GEVs may be unable to climb over or turn sharply enough to avoid collisions, while drastic, low-level maneuvers risk contact with solid or water hazards beneath. Aircraft can climb over most obstacles, but GEVs are more limited. "
Same thing as when a "sailboat" suddenly veers into the path of a heavy cargo ship. The rules of the sea are that steam gives way to sail, but physics puts obvious limits on that.
Re: Regent – Electric coastal travel
#46How about a boring ass electric train
Sounds too boring. Could we complicate things heaps by putting it into a vacuum tube at least?
Re: Regent – Electric coastal travel
#47How about a boring ass electric train
The US isn't very good at building large infrastructure projects. Boats and planes have the unique advantage that you don't need a lot of infrastructure along their path of travel, unlike a high speed train. Also this can be used as a replacement for a ferry. Note how two of their launch customers operate in the Caribbean, where travel between islands is a big deal.
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Re: Regent – Electric coastal travel
#48How about a boring ass electric train
what are you, European?
Re: Regent – Electric coastal travel
#49Earlier quoted context omitted.
The US isn't very good at building large infrastructure projects. Boats and planes have the unique advantage that you don't need a lot of infrastructure along their path of travel, unlike a high speed train. Also this can be used as a replacement for a ferry. Note how two of their launch customers operate in the Caribbean, where travel between islands is a big deal.
> The US isn't very good at building large infrastructure projects https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/interstate/finalmap.cfm But, yes, that was a long time ago. Still, we could find the will again.
That was almost three-quarters of a century ago, the US is a very different, chaotic, and dysfunctional country (see: California High-Speed Train Fiasco).
We can't build anything anymore.
Re: Regent – Electric coastal travel
#50[flagged]