Piaggio p.7

"PowderHound" (PowderHound) 09/19/2013 at 19:44 • Filed to: Planelopnik

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This thing is wicked. It is a racing float plane that instead of having floats, uses hydrofoils to take off. When it is resting, the body sits in the water up to the wings. Picture of it in the water after the jump.

Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager > PowderHound 09/19/2013 at 19:46

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Wicked stuff.

speedygopher > PowderHound 09/19/2013 at 20:07

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How do you get the prop spinning when it's in the water?

Bonhomme7h > PowderHound 09/19/2013 at 20:07

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I like the idea, I wonder why ekranoplans didn't use a similar technique. Taking off required huge amount of power due to the suction effect of fast moving water against the fuselage, hydrofoils would have helped I suppose.

Bonhomme7h > speedygopher 09/19/2013 at 20:09

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Look closely, it had a propeller and a rudder under the tail.

PowderHound > Bonhomme7h 09/19/2013 at 20:11

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I didn't even notice that.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > PowderHound 09/19/2013 at 20:17

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I don't get it. How does this thing take off?

edit: I didn't see the rear prop. I get it now.

speedygopher > Bonhomme7h 09/19/2013 at 21:37

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Missed that entirely.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Bonhomme7h 09/20/2013 at 00:27

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I saw that, but it would have to have a wicked angle of attack to keep the water prop submerged at the back, and the airscrew at the front clear of the water, so not to hit the prop tips, and possibly damage it.

And landings would be a problem, too, unless the airscrew can be locked horizontally, and every landing is a glide-in landing.

This seems highly problematic, and very particular to get just right.