Can you imagine being in your nice quiet cove chillin-out on margaritas and a little Jimmy Buffet when one of those parks next to you and out comes the Hummers, dirtbikes and jetskis.
Perhaps the most exciting feature of the Gemini is its ability to fly right into a remote deserted beach or island at low speeds allowing for the dry desembarkment of the owners and guests. The entire nose tilts open for easy deployment of two large off-road vehicles (bring your Hummer), cars or whatever toys you want. A transom garage holds one large tender, which is deployed by a ramp, so on the way back, all you have to do is speed up the tender to jump right into the garage. Have fun guys!
Future of Yacht Design!! Future of Yacht Design!! Where??? Where???
They are easier and safer to fly than a comparable size aircraft
and currently do not require any special license to be operated.
That's taken from the web page above. Is it just me, or is the thought of a 192 foot jet-yacht moving at 250 knts being piloted by your average powerboater just a little bit scary?
So, if I understand correctly, this thing is basically an airplane that flies only in ground effect?
The Gemini Ekranoplan is built to high military standards and equipped with a state-of-the-art aerospace derived navigation system and an advanced collision avoidance system that enables it to "jump" over a ship in it's path.
Great... (envisioning that opening scene from "Always" where a big fire tanker plane skims across a lake to fill up with water, and ends up swooping right over the heads of some hapless fisherman in a small boat).
(Oh, and if you enjoyed the futuristic pics above - and if you remember National Lampoon's "Bulgemobile" adverts - then you'll enjoy this little bit of futurisim....)
Hate to tell you, but that tilt rotor ducted fan little beastie with the fly by wire control system is currently undergoing FAA certification.... and god yes.......There is an N number on that beast
Another interesting feature of this type of high-speed craft is its ability to "jump" an obstacle in its path or even fly at high altitudes for a limited amount of time. The larger the craft the higher it can fly and "jump", making it possible for a 200ft Ekranoplan Yacht to cross from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic by simply flying over the Panama Canal, thus avoiding all the locks.
That is absolutely frightening plus the Panamanian FAA(or equiv) might have something to say about this.
Hee hee, fun to look at, now I'm going to sail what I perceive as the perfect boat for me, and that is what matters! In Germany they should be reffered to as VolksBoots...the People's boat!
I am in a slip in Oceanside for the weekend, as we will be lodging on her, four adults, cheap sleep, nice digs, $19.00 a day! Can't beat it at all!
