Hawkes Ocean Technologies has announced Sir Richard Branson will be taking delivery of the newest DeepFlight Submersible. Unlike conventional submersibles which use ballast to sink in the water, the DeepFlight submersibles uses downward ‘lift’ on the wings to fly down to depth.
The DeepFlight Merlin, a 3-person aero submarine, is the newest edition to Virgin Limited Edition’s properties, and will be delivered to Branson’s private resort, Necker Island in the Caribbean, this month. Operating on the same principles as flight through air, this open cockpit winged sub, dubbed Necker Nymph by Virgin, is the first of its kind to hit the market.
Underwater Flight
Designed and built by engineer Graham Hawkes, DeepFlight Merlin represents a new class of high-performance vehicles which safely extend the overall capabilities of scuba, while offering underwater flight. Gliding on the water’s surface like an airplane on a runway, one of the three pilots will operate the joystick to smoothly dive down.
The vessel can make 360 degrees turns and is hydrobatic. Individual “wind shields” remove the pressure of slipstream, enabling comfortable speed and ranges without enclosing the pilots. The open cockpits afford near ideal 360 degree viewing for occupants.
Near-Zero Environmental Impact
This newest DeepFlight submersible is equipped with patented safety systems; pilots follow standard SCUBA procedures. All DeepFlight craft, have near-zero environmental impact. Its positive buoyancy prevents the sub from landing on a reef, and its low light and noise emissions ensure ocean ecosystems remain undisturbed.
More information: https://www.deepflight.com/index.htm[www.deepflight.com]
