SECRET Military Seaplane Fighter: SeaWolf Amphibian (SWA)

[@annieoakley6310]

SeaWolf Amphibian POC: [e-mail] [phone]

[@SpectrumRob]

Looks like a Lake Renegade in camo.

[@edmigol8184]

Looks like the old Colonial Skimmer/Lake Amphibian to me. An easy plane to fly.

[@davidcarter2379]

All of the Lakes ( 180'S thru 270's) were built by Aerofab in Sanford, Maine. I worked there for almost 10 years and was involved in all aspects of production.

[@davidcarter2379]

The original design team for the Colonial Skimmer were Dave Thurston, Jack Tarbox and Herb Lindblad. I think. Dave started his own company and built the Teal which had no landing gear. The design of the SeaWolf, which was on the drawing board in the mid to late seventies, was mostly done by Jack Tarbox. Jack like Dave, was a aeronautical genius. This design was kind of kept under wraps. But not because it was a secret military project. I think it was more of an attempt to save a sinking ship( which they didn't want knoen) Armand Rivard may have got financially involved at about this time also. .Either Bill Doan (my father-in-law) or Bruce Rivard showed me this video many, many years ago, early eighties.

[@jamesmerkel9442]

The other nice feature of the new drop pontoon/fuel pods is when u fly out to some where remote u r leaving then fuel. This way u r lean & efficient on the return trip. Later on when empty all the pods can b flown back out when river ships return or improvement to landing make large planes poss(big plane alone comes every 3 month kind of thing). After see just how bad the land sights can b, I would make the double sized tires all rubber. If when the gear is fully retracted it still stick out a bit the grass & belly landing is even poss, w/certain sea plane hull shapes.

[@jamesmerkel9442]

If wish it had the puller & pusher prop to make up for added drag of the support.

[@utuber2940]

very cool airplane....

[@jamesmerkel9442]

Usually if the pontoon interferes w/ the tail & rudder u need a vtail or twin tail. The twin tail design also means a door could opened/lowered n the back, making loading & unloading easier. Watching building Alaska the planes hve twice as large tires for landing on poor & bad runways. They fly every thing n at 500$ min per trip. Every lb of extra weight or bulk is a GOD send. They don't use the sea planes though, but the private pilots do.

[@southjerseysound7340]

They use all kinds of seaplanes in AK,more so on the coast but they still play a large part.

[@BlueSky-qv7cd]

I definitely believe there is a need for flying boats, but this aircraft is generally to small to haul enough men and equipment to meet most military missions, they just need to put the Grumman Albatross or Mallard back into production.

[@annieoakley6310]

+John doe BETTER THAN NOTHING. Its a small start. BIG ENOUGH to move SEAL teams of 7 men...and with folding wings--perhaps from watertight containers on the back of submarines.

[@williamthurston5904]

.................... you know...... I think you're right........ what's the AG 600.... is that the new Chinese amphibian aircraft they came out with...?..... the Chinese seem to think that there's a need...... so they built that thing .....there's nothing on that aircraft that hasn't been already designed by Grumman....... they got swivel wheels .......they got the step on the chassis ...to separate it from the water.... into the air...... they got the v body..... and a couple of pontoons...... it's not even as nice as the Catalina pby 5...... there's nothing really Innovative about the shape or design...... nobody has rethought anything.... and improved that......... I'm positive they upgraded the engines and decreased fuel consumption...... and increased capability..... but I believe this aircraft was designed by old Dave Thurston...... who had a piece of the mallard.... the Grumman goose...... the panther ..cougar... and tiger....... and all of Lake amphibians...... that's his baby...... butt so many engineering things...... have shook the world... in the day but time moves on....... and I believe I could improve the design of this aircraft... and once again bring it up to date and make it a viable tool for the future.. not because I'm such an egotist...... but I actually have some talent........Ha ha ha....... I'm just a little short on cash this week...... I think I need about 50 million to get started...... so the very next time I win the lottery..... that'll be my first agenda......

[@williamthurston5904]

John doe ......... let me read design it will you...?

[@seaplaneguy1]

Annie, what, in your view would be the ideal small military "seal team" airplane? I am designing an airplane (seaplaneguy) that may work well. I can scale it from a 20 passenger (full scale) to a 1 passenger (1/3 scale). The small one can go 300 mph if need be. The all can drive down the road and wings fold while driving at speed. It has three modes of landing: 1) conventional at 60 mph , 2) power on lift at 30 mph, 3) VTOL. The useful load goes down the slower it lands, max 3/4 and 1/2. It can take off conventionally with heavy fuel loads (2400 miles) and then do VTOL at the destination, for example. People can walk out the front and can stand up inside, thus allowing people to put on gear, dress as needed. Bunks and toilet in larger versions. Camping "walls" fold down from the wings that are insulated for extreme cold weather camping. Land on a snow covered mountain, camp etc. The cockpit max width is 72 inches for the 20 passenger model (full scale) and scales down to 24 inches in 9 size increments. They all fly the same. They use only one engine and different number to allow for cruise speeds of 140 to well over 250 mph. Pilot can be in back, up high, and all passengers forward, thus allowing quick exit with the pilot still at full control (great for assaults). Side exists also. Pilot had rear exit too. The tires allow extreme rough fields. Gear can allow parachute drop of entire airplane without damage (4-6 feet of stroke). Can land in extreme wave conditions depending on landing modes and size. VTOL can land in water, then silently continue on to beach via aux power that thrusts via water, not props....no noise. Has wheel drive(s) for no prop movement (silent motion on ground. Can land on roads. power on lift landing distance is 50 feet at 30 mph. Has many engines. Get one engine damaged or shot up, no big deal. So, how many is the idea small team? Useful loads? Interesting in discussion so I can find one or more of the sizes that might be interesting. Instead of having Hummvees or road machine, this would be all. One for five soldier for example. Cheaper to drive than suburban. For example, one pilot in back, four soldiers. Drop off four and take off in ultra quiet mode (low power, low prop speed) and loiter at 70-80 with 2 gal/hr with five place. Cruise 10 gal/hr at 160 mph, more power faster, up to 250+. Can have 2- 19 engines depending on size (space inside) and power demands. One engine model runs ALL nine airplanes. Larger sizes have two engine joined to create twice the power per prop, for example. So, support only needs ONE engine to support ALL nine sizes. This cuts spare parts. Loss of engine is not mission critical or logistics critical. Small inventor. An assault group of 10 airplanes could have one spare engine just in case...for example. Can run on few engines if need be, but in conventional mode. Eliminates need for large transports. Small is better. Not target for missiles. Can put ATVs, jet skis, motor cycles and snowmobiles and stuff in larger sizes. Much better than helicopter for medical transport.... Need to consult with someone who knows what the military needs and who has experience with ops. I once worked as Civilian at AF base.... Bro Lt Col. Interested? [e-mail]

[@davidsweeney5938]

Looks something like the Dornier SeaStar,

[@jamesmerkel9442]

If the extra fuel tanks were twice as big n height & length it would hve float pod/ fuel tanks. This would give it 3 pnt landing on water & less draft/drag on take off. If it was over weight on the way n or out it could just boat 1st 50 miles till fuel weight = safe take off weight. N a remote place n bad weather rescuing 3 or 4 ppl at least out of the water could b huge.

[@DrewH789]

It reminds me of the old Republic Sea Bee amphibian. Some of them oare still flying.

[@Chuck59ish]

So why hasn't the piston engine been replaced by a turbine engine? AVGAS is an expensive fuel and not available every where. With the NAVY landing craft be turbine powered it would seem the way to go.

[@annieoakley6310]

+Charles Damery Diesel piston engines could use JP-8 and heavy naval ship fuel, too.

[@Chuck59ish]

A majority of he world's navies use ships powered by gas turbine engines that will burn everything including the oil from the onboard deep fryers in the ship mess.

[@annieoakley6310]

Charles Damery ITS AN OPTION. What with this defeatist, zero-sum mentality? A diesel piston engine can also burn deep fat fryer oil, too. The problem with turbine engines is YOU CANNOT REPAIR THEM like piston engines. Have to send them to much higher maintenance or the factory to be rebuilt. Is the higher HP output at lighter weight worth the turbine cost/complexity and IR signature? Maybe a diesel piston engine of the same HP but at slightly higher weight with low IR signature and can be repaired is the BEST answer?

[@RocKiteman]

The US Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk helicopters replaced the HH-3 Pelican helicopters. The HH-52's were replaced by the HH-65 "Dauphin" helicopters.

[@annieoakley6310]

+RocKiteman And now the Coast Guard CANNOT LAND ON THE WATER. That's REGRESS--not PROGRESS.

[@RocKiteman]

Annie Oakley Well, they DID NOT ask ME about it... «grin»

[@seantripp6028]

This thing looks like a jeep you can take anywhere.

[@dondidykes9507]

did not know the seawolf existed

[@annieoakley6310]

Drones Epic Fail @ American SW Border www.oig.dhs.gov/assets/Mgmt/2015/OIG_15-17_Dec14.pdf QUOTE: "Given that, after 8 years of operations, the UAS program cannot demonstrate its effectiveness, as well the cost of current operations,OAM should reconsider its planned expansion of the program. CBP could put the $443 million it plans to spend to expand the program to better use by investing in alternatives, such as manned aircraft and ground surveillance assets."

[@Random-rt5ec]

Wow what an incredible plane - Is there a civilian version?

[@The67wheelman]

what the hell is a hazardous material container??? on the outside pylons ..a bomb?

[@sergeymarkisev2145]

No, it's contraband ;-)

[@annieoakley6310]

Contact LMI the SWA makers!

[@annieoakley6310]

[e-mail] [phone]

[@jeoverv]

What's the deal with the split elevator? Nice plane :)

[@thecanadianavee8r660]

it's trim

[@jeffthomas7539]

that looks like a modded lake renegade or buccaneer

[@SUPERBROSCAST]

It is.

[@jas8256]

Sea Wolf was a Special Warfare Group of heavily armed US Navy Choppers that provided back up for extraction of Navy Seal Teams in Viet Nam ...

[@annieoakley6310]

And...the NAME OF THIS AMPHIBIAN AIRCRAFT!

[@inekemateman273]

Just keep it a secret! And power it by a turbine-engine!

[@annieoakley6310]

SeaWolf Amphibian (SWA): Roles & Missions kzbin.info/www/bejne/moHae4uofc-DZtU

[@jamesmerkel9442]

PPL should demand a real world time table to but to sea the reserve fleet for every ship. If work the list n reserve like the way u do triage on the battle field,. The least sick or hurt gets priority, & the dying die till the end. See if they can cut the entire fleet down to 3 to 6months. Any thing over a yr is not going to b used n a modern med hot war. Even 2 regional zone hot wars against real foes would b the same, & see 1/2 r fleet damaged(out of the fight) & 20% sunk worst case(modern torpedoes don't play). HERE comes this little plane to the rescue(300+ need just for usa).

[@jamesmerkel9442]

This is r real biggest advantage over youger, or newly advanced Navies, r ppl & ships n reserve. This should b given priority over high dollar stealth planes. It put the most ppl back to work to. U can retrain or newly train ppl n 6months, but r manufacture base is pathetic NOW. The ship industry has cut down to only a few big players left standing. New ship from scatch to sea would take twice as long as WW2 days, even w/robot welders & plasma cutters, because great knowledge, skilled ship workers r 60yrs + old NOW(they anti pulling 12hr +shift 6 days a week).

[@robertxavierbetancourtjuni8291]

too bad no mention of ICON A5