DeepFlight Merlin

Last updated

Class overview
Builders Hawkes Ocean Technologies
Operators Virgin Oceanic
Preceded by DeepFlight Super Falcon
Completed1
Active1
General characteristics
Type Submarine
Displacement750 kg (1,650 lb)
Length4.6 m (15 ft)
Beam3.0 m (9.8 ft)
Speed5 knots
Capacity3
Crew1

DeepFlight Merlin is a personal submarine by Hawkes Ocean Technologies, part of the DeepFlight line of submersibles. The positively buoyant [1] submersible was designed by Graham Hawkes. [2] The Merlin was the first winged open-cockpit submarine (a wet sub) available on the market, [2] [3] and first three-man submarine in the "aero submarine" class, [4] representing a major advance in scuba diving technology. [5]

Contents

It travels up to 5 knots, [2] has an operating time of one hour, [2] and an open cockpit, [2] requiring the use of scuba gear by occupants, [2] and giving them 360-degree views of the space around them. [1] The sub carries three, two passengers and one pilot. [6] The occupants have "windshields" to protect them from the water stream. [7] It is capable of hydrobatic maneuvers[ clarification needed ] and 360-degree turns. [8] It weighs 750 kg, is 4.6 m long, 3.0 m wide, 1.2 m tall, and runs off battery power. [9] It is available as either a single-seater or two-seater. [9] The design work on the sub started in July 2009. [10]

Necker Nymph

The first example of the Merlin, the Necker Nymph , was sold to Richard Branson's Virgin Hotel Group. [11] It cost US$670,000 [7] and is operated by Virgin Aquatic [12] from the 32-metre yacht Necker Belle , [13] which is based at the Virgin Limited Edition resort Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. [14]

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References

  1. 1 2 Design World, "DeepFlight Merlin 3-person Aero Submarine", 18 February 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 ABC News, "Richard Branson's 'Underwater Plane' Is 1st of Its Kind", Ki Mae Heussner, 4 February 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010)
  3. ↑ Buzzle.com, "Virgin Goes from Air to Sea with Luxury Submarine Rides" [usurped] , 6 February 2010 (retrieved 2 August 2010)
  4. ↑ Gather.com, "Necker Island & Virgin founder Richard Branson on Oprah Winfrey Show" Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine , 22 April 2010, Matt Clark (retrieved 2 August 2010)
  5. ↑ Forbes , "Submarines For The Super-Rich", Joumana Saad, 11 May 2010 (retrieved 2 August 2010)
  6. ↑ Deep Flight, Merlin Archived 22 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine press release, 1 February 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010)
  7. 1 2 Popular Mechanics , "Richard Branson Dives Into Personal Submarines With Hawk", Cassie Rodenberg, 11 March 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010)
  8. ↑ SmartPlanet , "Richard Branson reveals $662K fighter jet-inspired submarine" Archived 11 February 2010 at the Wayback Machine , Andrew Nusca, 1 February 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010)
  9. 1 2 Gizmag, "Necker Nymph: underwater flying becomes Virgin territory" (retrieved 31 July 2010)
  10. ↑ Outside , "Just Don't Call It a Submarine" [ permanent dead link ], Thayer Walker, May 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010)
  11. ↑ Contra Costa Times , "San Anselmo's Hawkes sell submersible to billionaire Richard Branson" Archived 16 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine , Jim Welte, 2 February 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010)
  12. ↑ Time , "Virgin Founder Richard Branson", Dan Fletcher, 1 September 2009 (retrieved 25 July 2010)
  13. ↑ SuperYachts.com, "Necker Nymph 'Underwater Aircraft' announced by Virgin Limited Edition" (retrieved 25 July 2010)
  14. ↑ Daily News , "Richard Branson's latest toy? An underwater plane called 'Necker Nymph'", Catey Hill, 1 February 2010 (retrieved 25 July 2010)

See also

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