The 60-year-old Navy platform that flips

Have you heard of the FLIP? It’s the U.S. Navy’s Floating Instrument Platform and as its name indicates, it can actually flip.
It performs 90-degree flips in order to monitor hard-to-detect systems in the open ocean without rocking around in the waves. In that sense, it’s actually a floating research platform.
Having been built in 1962, it was originally planned to study acoustic propagation for submarine warfare.
Since then, however, it’s expanded its reach to support research in various fields such as geophysics, meteorology, and oceanography.
What tools is FLIP equipped with that make it such a proficient research lab? How many crew members can the platform handle? How long can they each stay without resupplying? What is the science, technology, and engineering behind the fact that this platform does not sink?
We answer all these questions and more in our video.
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[@aixelanna]

I was searching for a great video about the FLIP and finally found one that explains its purpose. Thank you so much for making this a part of Interesting Engineering. I also love all of the comments on here! I may as well mention that my father-in-law was the principal designer of the FLIP when he worked for General Dynamics in the 1950s and the 1960s. He passed away about a year ago.

[@seeutube8860]

Imagine how much effort goes into designing items that need to operate in vertical operation including tables, chairs, chemical equipment, water sink,..

[@Thebreakdownshow1]

That is FLIPPING AWESOME lol.

[@mwansakambole7434]

Always looking forward to seeing New videos ☺️😁

[@andreacastro_]

That´s really amazing

[@ckdigitaltheqof6th210]

A nightmare to witness if your the average skipper, what a awe, to discover with this flipping ship.

[@larstueschjth2658]

Far out-nearby🤪

[@devadattan]

Totally wasted money

[@madhousenetwork]

Why's that? Just because you don't understand its purpose?

[@jens5789]

@@madhousenetwork just take a look at his channel, it looks about as degenerated as his comment