DeepFlight Merlin explained
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] 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. It is capable of hydrobatic maneuvers and 360-degree turns.[7] It weighs 750 kg, is 4.6 m long, 3.0 m wide, 1.2 m tall, and runs off battery power.[8] It is available as either a single-seater or two-seater.[8] The design work on the sub started in July 2009.[9]
Necker Nymph
The first example of the Merlin, the Necker Nymph, was sold to Richard Branson's Virgin Hotel Group.[10] It cost US$670,000[11] 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]
External links
- DeepFlight, Merlin (official webpage)
See also
Notes and References
- Design World, "DeepFlight Merlin 3-person Aero Submarine", 18 February 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010)
- ABC News, "Richard Branson's 'Underwater Plane' Is 1st of Its Kind", Ki Mae Heussner, 4 February 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010)
- Buzzle.com, "Virgin Goes from Air to Sea with Luxury Submarine Rides", 6 February 2010 (retrieved 2 August 2010)
- [Gather.com]
- Forbes, "Submarines For The Super-Rich", Joumana Saad, 11 May 2010 (retrieved 2 August 2010)
- Deep Flight, Merlin press release, 1 February 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010)
- SmartPlanet, "Richard Branson reveals $662K fighter jet-inspired submarine", Andrew Nusca, 1 February 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010)
- Gizmag, "Necker Nymph: underwater flying becomes Virgin territory" (retrieved 31 July 2010)
- Outside, "Just Don't Call It a Submarine", Thayer Walker, May 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010)
- Contra Costa Times, "San Anselmo's Hawkes sell submersible to billionaire Richard Branson", Jim Welte, 2 February 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010)
- Popular Mechanics, "Richard Branson Dives Into Personal Submarines With Hawk", Cassie Rodenberg, 11 March 2010 (retrieved 31 July 2010)
- Time, "Virgin Founder Richard Branson", Dan Fletcher, 1 September 2009 (retrieved 25 July 2010)
- SuperYachts.com, "Necker Nymph 'Underwater Aircraft' announced by Virgin Limited Edition" (retrieved 25 July 2010)
- Daily News, "Richard Branson's latest toy? An underwater plane called 'Necker Nymph'", Catey Hill, 1 February 2010 (retrieved 25 July 2010)
