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Flywhale Aircraft Flywhale

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Flywhale
Role Sports amphibian
National origin Germany
Manufacturer Uniplanes GmbH
First flight 13 September 2013
Number built 10 (2020)

The Flywhale FW650 was a two-seat amphibious sports aircraft designed and built in Germany by Uniplanes GmbH. It is now owned and built by Dornier Seawings under the name DS-2C.

Design and development

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The Flywhale, built mainly from carbon fibre composite materials, is a flying boat style amphibian, with a single step hull and sponsons rather than wing tip floats. It accommodates two in side-by-side seating fitted with a single control between both seats. The design also provides room for two people to sleep in the fuselage.[1][2] A large, one-piece canopy hinges forward for access.[3] Behind the seats is a baggage area. The Flywhale has short-legged, tricycle landing gear[1] with mainwheels retracting backwards into the sponsons.[3] It can operate on land and water.[2]

Its high cantilever wings are trapezoidal in plan and can be removed for transport. Its empennage is cruciform, with the horizontal tail part-way up a triangular fin and rudder. A 75 kW (100 hp) Rotax 912 iS flat-four engine is mounted on a necked pylon over the wing in tractor configuration.[1] This originally drove a two blade propeller[1] but more recently a three-bladed one has replaced it.[3] A BRS ballistic parachute is an option.[1]

The Flywhale flew for the first time on 13 September 2013.[1] A second airframe has been completed, including modifications suggested by the flight trials of the first,[1] and this flew in the summer of 2015.[3]

On 19 January 2022, Dornier Seawings announced that they had acquired all intellectual property and production assets of the Flywhale project, which would henceforth by known as the Dornier Seawings DS-2C, alongside the larger Dornier Seastar.[4]

Variants

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Adventure
Standard version as in Specifications


Specifications (Adventure)

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Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2015-16[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: One pilot
  • Capacity: One passenger
  • Length: 6.45 m (21 ft 2 in)
  • Wingspan: 9.00 m (29 ft 6 in)
  • Height: 2.35 m (7 ft 9 in)
  • Empty weight: 345–400 kg (761–882 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 650 kg (1,433 lb) with rescue parachute
  • Fuel capacity: 106 L (23 imp gal; 28 US gal)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Rotax 912 iS flat-four, 75 kW (101 hp)
  • Propellers: 3-bladed , constant speed

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 200 km/h (120 mph, 110 kn)
  • Stall speed: 72 km/h (45 mph, 39 kn)
  • Never exceed speed: 250 km/h (160 mph, 130 kn)
  • Endurance: 6 hr 0 min
  • g limits: +4/-2

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Gunston, Bill (2015). Jane's All the World's Aircraft : development & production : 2015-16. IHS Global. p. 265. ISBN 978-0-7106-3135-0.
  2. ^ a b Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 56. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  3. ^ a b c d "Flywhale Aircraft". Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  4. ^ "Dornier Seawings acquires Flywhale project from Uniplanes GmbH". 19 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
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