| Flywhale | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | Sports amphibian |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Uniplanes GmbH |
| First flight | 13 September 2013 |
| Number built | 10 (2020) |
The Flywhale FW650 was a two-seat amphibious sports aircraft designed and built in Germany by Uniplanes GmbH. It is now owned and built by Dornier Seawings under the name DS-2C.
The Flywhale, built mainly from carbon fibre composite materials, is a flying boat style amphibian, with a single step hull and sponsons rather than wing tip floats. It accommodates two in side-by-side seating fitted with a single control between both seats. The design also provides room for two people to sleep in the fuselage. [1] [2] A large, one-piece canopy hinges forward for access. [3] Behind the seats is a baggage area. The Flywhale has short-legged, tricycle landing gear [1] with mainwheels retracting backwards into the sponsons. [3] It can operate on land and water. [2]
Its high cantilever wings are trapezoidal in plan and can be removed for transport. Its empennage is cruciform, with the horizontal tail part-way up a triangular fin and rudder. A 75 kW (100 hp) Rotax 912 iS flat-four engine is mounted on a necked pylon over the wing in tractor configuration. [1] This originally drove a two blade propeller [1] but more recently a three-bladed one has replaced it. [3] A BRS ballistic parachute is an option. [1]
The Flywhale flew for the first time on 13 September 2013. [1] A second airframe has been completed, including modifications suggested by the flight trials of the first, [1] and this flew in the summer of 2015. [3]
On 19 January 2022, Dornier Seawings announced that they had acquired all intellectual property and production assets of the Flywhale project, which would henceforth by known as the Dornier Seawings DS-2C, alongside the larger Dornier Seastar. [4]
Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2015-16 [1]
General characteristics
Performance
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