![]() ![]() Both James Bondesque aircraft are sleek in style and operation, but while the Seastar is a practical airplane, it shows its age when compared with the latest generation of design. Lisa Airplanes’ Akoya, meanwhile, another two-seater aircraft, also features folding wings and goes a step further by allowing the pilot to land on snow with skis automatically deployed on to the wheels at the touch of a button. Thanks to its foldable wings, its 10.6m wingspan is significantly reduced for easy stowage. While its range is less than half of that of the Seastar at 427nm, its strength lies in its design, ease of use and storability. For instance, the Icon A5 is a two- seater, single-engine amphibious aircraft constructed from carbon fibre. Over the past six years, the market has been introduced to a handful of toys to get owners into the air. Then there are the running costs, which are a third of that of an equivalent helicopter.” “A helicopter of that size would be a Sikorsky S-76 or an Airbus Dauphin and would cost about USD 12 million, whereas our Seastar costs USD 7 million. “We’ve neglected how suitable the sea is as a runway,” explains Dornier, before making a direct comparison between the Seastar – which can carry two crew and 12 guests – and an equivalent helicopter. With a greater range, speed and lower running costs than a helicopter, a seaplane can provide an owner with a great deal of flexibility.Ĭonrado Dornier at the Global Superyacht Forum Outlining its many benefits, Dornier suggested that this form of transportation is likely to become more popular in the coming years. ![]() ![]() But will it?Īt the Global Superyacht Forum in November last year, chairman of Dornier Seawings - and owner of 35.6m sailing yacht Tiziana - Conrado Dornier challenged this thinking as he presented the company’s Seastar seaplane. It is a relatively small figure that seems destined to rise as the average size of vessels able to accommodate such aircraft continues to grow. Since 2011, 6.4 per cent of the 1,100-plus yachts delivered (and in build at the time of writing) have been fitted with a helipad. ![]()
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