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also positively buoyant and does not rely on traditional
submarines’ lead weights or ballast to control depth. Hawkes
makes the point that the only marine creature that operates
like a conventional submarine in this regard is probably the
chambered nautilus. Other ocean dwellers like sharks, manta
rays and whales depend on fins for propulsion and direction.
The Super Falcon likewise has wings and a propeller to
emulate the speed, grace and agility of these big animals.
The ultimate advantage of the Super Falcon is that it is a
serious submarine that can be launched from shore. There
are several deep-ocean submarines operating at present, but
they all require 300-foot support vessels that are national
assets of the U.S., Russia, Japan or China and would cost
$50,000 a day to charter. The Super Falcon can be launched
from its own trailer and operate independently of a support
vessel, consequently far more affordably.
The concept was validated in the spring of 2011 as the
Super Falcon was deployed from beaches and marinas in the
Gulf of Aqaba in the northern Red Sea. Seven of Jordan’s most
respected scientists flew with Hawkes the entire length of the
Jordanian coastline, from the Israeli to the Saudi borders. The
objective was to investigate the corals beyond the 130-foot
depths to which they had already been documented on scuba.
The ability to navigate nearly 7 miles of coastline in a single
dive and then hauling out on a remote beach is an entirely new
concept in ocean exploration. By dispensing with the need
for full-ocean-depth capabilities the DeepFlight Challenger
requires, an ultralight submersible with speed, range and
maneuverability became an operational possibility.
Of course, submarines like the Super Falcon are not cheap.
The Christmas 2010 issue of the luxury goods chronicle Robb
Report lumped Hawkes’ submersibles with rare desirables
like the Bugatti Veyron in a cover story identifying 21 holiday
gifts for the uber-wealthy. But with four generations of
DeepFlight winged submersibles already developed, perhaps
underwater flight will be an even more accessible reality one
day soon. For more information, visit www.deepflight.com.
— Stephen Frink
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