Rutan SkiGull
{{Short description|American amphibious aircraft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2022}}
| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name=SkiGull | image=File:SkiGull in flight (skis retracted).jpg | caption=SkiGull on its maiden flight, with the skis retracted. }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type | type=Amphibious | national origin=United States | manufacturer= | designer=Burt Rutan | first flight=November 2015{{cite web|url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Rutans-SkiGull-Takes-First-Flight-225267-1.html|accessdate=27 November 2015|title=Rutan's SkiGull Takes First Flight|date=25 November 2015 }} | introduced= | retired= | status=In development | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built= 1 | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
File:SkiGull in flight (skis deployed).jpeg
The Rutan SkiGull is an amphibious aircraft designed by Burt Rutan.{{cite web|url=http://www.popsci.com/legendary-plane-designer-burt-rutan-tests-seaplane|title=Legendary Plane Designer Burt Rutan Tests Weird Seaplane|work=Popular Science|date=25 November 2015 |accessdate=4 December 2015}}
Development
The SkiGull is a two-seat composite/titanium aircraft equipped with retractable ski undercarriage that can have wheels attached for water, snow or land operations, landing on around 400 feet of surface, but with a range to cross oceans.{{cite news |first=Bethany |last=Whitfield |url=http://www.flyingmag.com/news/burt-rutan-releases-details-his-new-aircraft-design |title=Burt Rutan Releases Details on His New Aircraft Design |work=Flying |date=12 March 2015 |accessdate=13 March 2015 }} The engine is configured to operate with Swift Fuel, auto or boat fuel. The aircraft is being developed privately.{{cite web|title=Rutan's Next Airplane|date=12 March 2015 |url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Rutans-Next-Airplane-In-The-Works-223682-1.html|accessdate=12 March 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/innovation/aerospace-guru-burt-rutan-talks-about-skigull-his-next-plane-n321916|title=Aerospace Guru Burt Rutan Talks About SkiGull, His Next Plane|website=NBC News |date=March 12, 2015 |accessdate=12 March 2015}}
Public disclosure of the SkiGull design was made at the EAA's Airventure convention in 2015. Details included ability to operate in ocean waves with skis or land on smooth water or grass with skis retracted, 140 knot cruise speed (optionally 177 knots turbocharged), quiet flight, water takeoff in 460 feet, high wing with 47-foot span (foldable), ground transportation without a trailer, a single 44-percent-span Fowler flap behind the main propeller, and two electric motors with forward-folding{{cite web|url=https://generalaviationnews.com/2015/08/26/development-continues-on-burt-rutans-skigull/|title=Development continues on Burt Rutan's SkiGull|work=generalaviationnews.com|date=August 26, 2015 |accessdate=27 July 2017}} reversible propellers to simplify docking and give optional takeoff power.{{cite web|url=http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2015/July/22/SkiGull-Details-Revealed|title=SkiGull details revealed|work=aopa.org|date=22 July 2015 |accessdate=4 December 2015}}
The SkiGull performed water tests in October 2015. It has two 12 hp electric motors for docking, but they can also fly the plane 8 miles without the piston engine. The plane can loiter for 35 hours.{{cite web|url=http://www.flyingmag.com/news/burt-rutan-takes-skigull-water|title=Burt Rutan Takes SkiGull to the Water|work=Flying Magazine|date=5 November 2015 |accessdate=4 December 2015}} First flight tests in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho lasting 1.8 hours were successfully completed November 24, 2015. Tests included basic stability and control in cruise configuration and with flap down and skis extended.{{cite web|url=http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-and-aviation-news/2015-news/11-24-2015-rutans-skigull-first-flight|title=Rutan's SkiGull - First Flight|work=eaa.org|accessdate=4 December 2015|archive-date=November 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126164357/http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/eaa-news-and-aviation-news/2015-news/11-24-2015-rutans-skigull-first-flight|url-status=dead}} Rutan states that his goal for the aircraft is "something that we'll look back and say, 'what this airplane is and is able to do, in terms of operating in beaches, rough water, and have the kind of capabilities that it has, is not just something a little better than the best floatplane, but something that is really truly breakthrough in nature.'"{{cite web|url=http://lookingupwayup.com/2016/02/01/skigull-first-flight/|title=SkiGull's First Flight and an Update from Burt|work=Looking Up, Way Up!|accessdate=8 April 2016}}
Ongoing work is addressing refinements such as stall characteristics and pitch attitude in water. Changes also include larger wheels functionally independent of the skis and no longer configured as a "tail dragger."{{cite web|url=http://lookingupwayup.com/2017/07/17/testing-testing1-23/|title=TESTING… TESTING…1…2…3|work=Looking Up, Way Up!|accessdate=1 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.burtrutan.com/|title=BurtRutan.com|work=Burt Rutan|accessdate=27 July 2017}}
Specifications (SkiGull)
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|eng1 name=Rotax 912iS
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|eng1 hp=100
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See also
- Scaled Composites - Company founded by Rutan
References
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- {{cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/antennafilms/looking-up-way-up-the-burt-rutan-story/posts/1178225|first=Burt|last=Rutan|title=SkiGull description & Walter Mitty plan|date=Mar 25, 2015|accessdate=2015-04-03|publisher=Kickstarter}}
{{refend}}
External links
- [http://www.burtrutan.com/skigull/ BurtRutan.com] - Burt's SkiGull photos