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Seagliders' 35-minute trips to Auckland closer with $145m deal (www.nzherald.co.nz)

submitted 6 months ago by Ilovethebomb@lemmy.nz to c/offtopic@lemmy.nz

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I'm pretty sceptical about ground effect planes, there's a very good reason why they've never really taken off, despite so many countries and organisations giving them a try over the years, but I'd love to know what everyone else thinks.

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[–] Xcf456@lemmy.nz 6 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

I agree there appear to be very good reasons not to use these.

Foling at 500kmph (edit: more like 250kmph by the looks of it) 10 metres above the water seems to just be inherently bonkers as a means of mass transportation given the very limited room for error/failure that results in everyone on board being instantly killed. Planes and helicopters can glide/autorotate, ships move slower.

The 3d mock ups and carefully shot video of the first flight (that obscures the fact it's a very small scale model prototype) suggest vapour ware scam startup.

Honestly for the love of god, can we just have trains?

[–] BalpeenHammer@lemmy.nz 4 points 6 months ago

I honestly don't know who is dumb enough to believe they are going to be moving crowds over the water at 250km/h. That's just bonkers. We can't move cars and trains that fast FFS.

A typical turbo prop will cruise at around 400 km/h

Well maybe the investors are dumb enough.

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemmy.nz 3 points 6 months ago

A sea plane or float plane would be a much simpler, safer option, in my view.