Self-Pilot Personal Submarine to Launch in Monaco
DeepFlight announced it will introduce a new type of personal submarine at the 2014 Monaco Yacht Show. The company said its new product, the DeepFlight Dragon, is the most compact, lightweight personal submarine on the market, and is so intuitive to use that clients self-pilot the craft with minimal instruction.
The all-electric (zero emissions) DeepFlight Dragon was designed specifically for easy use from yacht or shore to explore the twilight zone down to 400 feet (120 meters). At 3,968 pounds (1,800 kg) and under 5 feet (1.5 m) in height, the Dragon is less than half the weight of competing submarines and readily fits into existing yacht garages or deck areas. Like all DeepFlight personal submarines, the Dragon is positively buoyant, meaning the craft automatically floats to the surface. And the Dragon is the first DeepFlight craft to use vertical thrust, thus enabling a hover capability.
DeepFlight explained that the two-person Dragon is the only personal submarine which has enough power to rely solely on vertical thrust to dive, eliminating the complexity of the ballast and drop weight systems that all competing submersibles use to get heavy and sink to depth. This newest DeepFlight craft also offers the DeepFlight Dive Manager, a proprietary technology that monitors and manages critical functions, therefore eliminating the need for a professional pilot in a third seat.
Adam Wright, President of DeepFlight, said, “We have made a giant leap forward in introducing our newest submarine, the DeepFlight Dragon. We now offer the lowest weight and lowest profile personal submersible available, and the only such craft that offers both hover and flight capabilities and comes equipped with a built-in Dive Manager. We believe the Dragon will open the market for subsea recreation at a large scale and anticipate that you will soon be seeing DeepFlight craft at more resort and marina locations around the world.”
DeepFlight has already integrated its submarines into sailing and motor yacht operations and is the first personal submarine manufacturer to sell its craft for resort and tourism operations. The company is currently accepting preorders for Dragons at a special introductory rate.
DeepFlight has more than 45 years experience innovating the most advanced underwater craft, including its flagship craft, the DeepFlight Super Falcon, which pioneered underwater flight. The DeepFlight Dragon makes a further breakthrough in introducing the power and onboard monitoring and management systems that enable people to pilot the craft themselves with minimal instruction, and to enjoy underwater flight with hovering capability. Owners of DeepFlight submarines include, among others, Sir Richard Branson; venture capitalist, Tom Perkins; and Red Bull Founder, Dietrich Mateschitz. DeepFlight recently delivered a DeepFlight Super Falcon to Laucala Island in Fiji, which is the second resort to own a DeepFlight submarine for guest experiences.
Graham Hawkes, DeepFlight’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, added, “While humans have long dreamed of flying machines, we have actually realized this dream by building craft that fly underwater. Over the last twenty years we have tested and proven five generations of personal submarines, with each generation breaking through to new and powerful capabilities. With the DeepFlight Dragon, we wanted people to fully enjoy the experience of flying a submarine on their own. After all, no one buys a sports car and then gives the keys to a chauffeur.”
DeepFlight Dragon Basic Specifications:
LxHxW: 4.8m x 1.5m x 2.1m (15.7ft x 4.9 ft x 6.8 ft)
Operating depth: 120m (400 feet)
Crew: 2
Payload: 230kg (507 lbs)
Air weight: 1,800kg (3,968 lbs)
Flight capabilities: Flight and hover
Safety features: Positive buoyancy, inflatable launch platform enabling easy entry and egress, emergency inflatable gas bag system
deepflight.com