Stunning images have revealed an incredible flying boat that soars above the water on a cushion of air at speeds of up to 106 knots / 196km/h.
The winged Airfish 8 can carry up to eight passengers and could revolutionise travel between thousands of islands in Indonesia, the Philippines, Polynesia and the Caribbean, among others.
The firm behind its creation is currently in the process of designing and building a larger craft, which could carry up to 50 people.
Fitted with the engine of a race car -- specifically a 7-litre V8 engine -- and resembling the look of a sleek seaplane, the Airfish 8 is in fact classified as a merchant ship.
Based in Singapore, the company behind it, Wigetworks, hopes to change the way people travel and offer a whole host of other uses with this innovative craft.
The firm behind its creation is currently in the process of designing and building a larger craft, which could carry up to 50 people | Daily Mail
The AirFish 8 (AF8) is designed to be operated by two crew and can carry between 6-8 passengers.
Utilizing the Wing-In-Ground (WIG) effect, the craft essentially flies close to the water surface while supported by a field of high-pressure air beneath its wings and above the water surface. This creates the impression that it's simply gliding above a cushion of air. Travelling above the water surface also means there’s no hydrodynamic drag, making the craft much more fuel-efficient.
The AirFish 8 (AF8) is a wing-in-ground-effect (Wig) craft created by Singapore firm Wigetworks. Wigs are technically boats rather than aircraft, but the vessels are capable of operating completely above the surface of the water | DailyMail on Facebook
Using technology first started by the Russians in 1960, the Airfish 8 itself is based on a German prototype and is the world’s first to be registered as a merchant ship with the Singapore Registry of Shipping.
Take off and landing is relatively swift and effortless when the water is flat, but it can get a little rough when the waves are high. However, that only lasts for about 30-45 seconds, and once airborne, the ride would be smooth and easy regardless of the waves below.
It requires around 500m to takeoff or land and has a range of around 300 nautical miles (926km).
I began my career in the banking industry in 1997, and stayed approx 6 years in it. This industry boost his knowledge about the economic condition in Indonesia, both macro and micro, and how to
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understand it. My banking career continued in Yogyakarta when I joined in a program funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB),as the coordinator for a program aimed to help improve the quality of learning and teaching process in private universities in Yogyakarta. When the earthquake stroke Yogyakarta, I chose to join an international NGO working in the area of ?disaster response and management, which allows me to help rebuild the city, as well as other disaster-stricken area in Indonesia. I went on to become the coordinator for emergency response in the Asia Pacific region. Then I was assigned for 1 year in Cambodia, as a country coordinator mostly to deliver developmental programs (water and sanitation, education, livelihood). In 2009, he continued his career as a protocol and HR officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya, and two years later I joined the Political and Economic Section until now, where i have to deal with extensive range of people and government officials, as well as private and government institution troughout eastern Indonesia.
I am the founder and Editor-in-Chief in Good News From Indonesia (GNFI), a growing and influential social media movement, and was selected as one of The Most Influential Netizen 2011 by The Marketeers magazine.
I also wrote a book on "Fundamentals of Disaster Management in 2007"?, "Good News From Indonesia : Beragam Prestasi Anak Bangsa di dunia"? which was luanched in August 2013, and "Indonesia Bersyukur"? which is launched in Sept 2013. In 2014, 3 books were released in which i was one of the writer; "Indonesia Pelangi Dunia"?, "Indonesia The Untold Stories"? and "Growing! Meretas Jalan Kejayaan"
I give lectures to students in lectures nationwide, sharing on full range of issues, from economy, to diplomacy
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