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Preliminary Research and Documentation

Design and build a model of the Freedom Flyer Wing in Ground effect craft that is of the same scale as weight to size ratio of the proposed finished product.

Requirements

The Freedom Flyer must contain the following parts and components

  • Body - A water-proof and aerodynamic body that is designed as per the model and which both sails and flies with small electric motors.
  • Wings - that are both fixed and movable/foldable and which serve the dual `purpose of flying in ground effect and sailing.
  • Control Mechanisms - which will allow the control of the vessel in flight, while sailing, as well as the various necessities for living aboard.
  • Compressed Air Tank - Design a lightweight tank that can hold compressed air at a pressure sufficient to operate various control mechanisms
  • Autopilot - Acquire and possibly modify existing auto driving technology so as to be able to operate the Freedom Flyer on autopilot while cruising in a straight line over the ocean
  • Hydrofoils - Build hydrofoils that would retract into horizontal position. There would be used for take offs and sea landings in the down position, and in the up position would give additional wing lift if the forward part of the craft.
  • Solar panels - Freedom Flyer would charge the onboard batteries with solar panels situated on the body, the fixed wings, and the cabin canopies.
  • Battery Charging - When plugged into a household power plug the system would charge the batteries.
  • Wind Generator - Acquire a lightweight wind generator that would be housed in the body during flight and could be raised at other times to charge the batteries with wind power.

 

How FREEDOM FLYER works

By joining together existing technologies it should be possible to build this craft which can both fly on battery power at high speeds, fly and glide on battery power with intermittent on/off of the motors at lower speeds but for much longer distances, and also convert to a trimaran sailboat for long distance sailing when needed.

  • The 2 motors in the canard propel the craft at high speed in wing in ground effect.
  • When longer ranges are desired, the auto pilot should be able to read air speed and distance above the ocean, and then turn the motors on for bursts of powered flying until the craft has regained altitude and speed and can glide for a distance again with no power being consumed. Then shutting off the motors and allowing the craft to glide with the auto pilot controlling the wing and rudder surfaces until the craft has reduced speed and height above the ocean and needs to consume power again.
  • The interior accommodations should be sufficient for 2 couples in 2 separate cabins with 1.5 bathrooms. A kitchenette, fold out dining table, pilot/office/entertainment chair, as well as one shower and 2 bathroom sinks and 1 toilet should be in the body of the craft.
  • The wings are partially fixed and resting on pontoons, and part of the sail can be brought up into a vertical position and unfolded into 2 pieces, which converts it into a wing sail.
  • The core structure should be a set of varying size rings held together by stronger structural bars, cross bars and a floor above the bilge area, which could also be used as fresh water storage.

The Freedom Flyer should be useful for up to 2 couples to live aboard either at anchor in the sea or up on a beach or parking area. Also by raising the 2 wings to near vertical should be able to dock in marinas in a catamaran space. When is desired, such as to escape upcoming bad weather, the craft should be able to cover 200 km in an hour or so and much longer distances at a speed of 75 kilometres per hour, until the batteries discharge. Then it could convert to sailing mode if longer distance travel would be desired. 

 

 

 

 


 

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