Fischer Airfish AF-3
| Fischer Airfish AF-3 | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Ground effect vehicle |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
1990 |
| Commissioning: |
1990 |
| Number of pieces: |
1 |
The Airfish AF-3 ground-effect vehicle was developed by Fischer Flugmechanik in 1990 on the basis of Bill Russel's specification for a commercial sport boat vehicle for the American market.
history
The American Bill Russel became aware of the development of the Airfish AF-1 at Fischer Flugmechanik as early as 1987 and was interested in marketing the ground-effect vehicles in the recreational boat sector in the USA. After completing the development of the Airfish AF-2 , Hanno Fischer took on the design of a two-seater sport boat based on the AF-2 according to the specification from Bill Russel. Since Russel only wanted to take over finished boats and Fischer Flugmechanik, as an engineering office, had no production facilities of its own, a license agreement was reached between Fischer Flugmechanik and Rhein-Flugzeugbau for the series production of the AF-3 in 1990 . In the meantime, Bill Russel had founded the Flarecraft Corporation as a sales company in the USA and commissioned Rhein-Flugzeugbau to build the prototype of the Airfish AF-3.
construction
The design of the Airfish AF-3 is based on the AF-2, but had a wider fuselage segment to accommodate the two passengers sitting next to each other. The winglets of the wing could be retracted for better maneuverability in ports. A 75 hp BMW two-cylinder motorcycle engine served as the drive.
Modifications
To improve take-off and landing behavior, Fischer later installed the so-called PAR (Power Augmented RAM) on the AF-3, which Alexander Lippisch had already tested on the Collins X-112 . In the bow area of the boat, two 20 hp Westlake motors with propellers were installed on both sides of the hull, the outlet stream of which was blown under the wings. This enabled the take-off mass to be increased by 100–150 kg and the take-off distance to be reduced to the ground effect area until take-off. The Airfish equipped with PAR was named AF-3PA.
Versions
- FF Airfish AF-3 - draft 1990
- RFB Airfish AF-3 - prototype 1990
- RFB Airfish AF-3PA - modified prototype with PAR support, 2 × Westlake motors
Production and sales
The Airfish AF-3 was manufactured under license by Rhein-Flugzeugbau in Mönchengladbach. The prototype was built after being commissioned by Flarecraft Corporation with the support of Fischer Flugmechanik in 1990. The subsequent testing was carried out by Fischer Flugmechanik on the Markener Sea in Holland. The maritime approval was granted in 1991 by Germanischer Lloyd with IMO classification B. The acceptance of the prototype by Flarecraft Corporation with subsequent transfer to Florida took place at the end of 1991. In the USA, the Coast Guard issued a special permit for demonstration flights. In spring 1992 Flarecraft presented the AF-3 for the first time at the Miami Boat Show 1992. To improve the take-off and landing behavior, Russel returned the AF-3 prototype to RFB and Fischer Flugmechanik at the end of 1992, where it was equipped with PAR technology .
Due to the bankruptcy of Rhein-Flugzeugbau in 1993, the planned series production of the AF-3 in Mönchengladbach was no longer possible. Bill Russel therefore looked for suitable production capacities for the AF-3 in the USA independently of Fischer Flugmechanik. Russel later changed the two-seater AF-3 into a four-seater sport boat called the Flarecraft L325 , which first flew in October 1996. A total of seven L325s were built, but they turned out to be too heavy. Three of the flying boats crashed until 2001 when the L325 was finally abandoned.
The prototype of the Airfish AF-3 remained a one-off.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | FF Airfish AF-3 |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 |
| Passengers | 1 |
| length | 9.90 m |
| span | 7.50 m |
| height | 2.60 m |
| Wing area | m² |
| Wing extension | |
| payload | 220 kg |
| Empty mass | 540 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 760 kg |
| Cruising speed | |
| Top speed | 120 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 0.1 m |
| Range | 410 Nm |
| Engines | a BMW, 90 hp |
Whereabouts
The prototype of the Airfish AF-3 was taken over in 1997 by Flightship Ground Effect Pty in Cairns together with the X.113 from the bankruptcy estate of Rhein-Flugzeugbau and brought to Australia. AF-3 has been owned by Wigetworks Ltd. since 2004 . in Singapore, where it is used for education and training.
Comparable types
See also
literature
- Paul Zöller: Rhein-Flugzeugbau GmbH and Fischer Flugmechanik , 2016, ISBN 978-3-7431-1823-2
- Kevin Cameron: The Boat that Flies . Popular Science, 1992. ( online at books.google.de)
Web links
- AF-3 description at Fischer Flugmechanik (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Paul Zöller: Rhein-Flugzeugbau GmbH and Fischer Flugmechanik, 2016, ISBN 978-3-7431-1823-2 . ( German National Library [accessed on May 23, 2017]).
- ↑ Fischer flight mechanics: Fischer flight mechanics AF-3. Retrieved May 24, 2017 .
- ↑ Kirill V. Rozhdestvensky: Wing in Ground Effect Vehicles. (PDF) 2006, accessed on May 24, 2017 .
- ↑ Kevin Cameron: The Boat that Flies, in Popular Science, April 1992 . ( Google Books [accessed May 23, 2017]).
- ↑ Creapolis: Hoverwing TIG Craft. Retrieved May 24, 2017 .