Autonomous Solar Powered Hydrofoil: Part 1

[@rctestflight]

I wanna see what happens with no foils and a few more volts! I feel like it might make a nice GEV haha

[@thinkflight]

It shall be tried....

[@cloudpandarism2627]

@@thinkflight if you also start to sing on your channel i will loose my shiat! nah seriously how do you have only 28k subs? half million end of this year. get it done chop chop! awesome stuff🤛

[@thercproject9309]

@@thinkflight what if you left the foils on and gave it some more juice?

[@ishigamiyu1991]

@@thercproject9309 the same thing that was happening will happen again. just a bit more adverse

[@macrumpton]

It seems like GE and hydrofoils could be complementary. I am guessing that with less load on the foils the tendency to ventilate/cavitate would decrease, so the GE would increase with the speed which would partially unload the foils.

[@Project-Air]

Loved the video! I definitely relate to the frustrations hydrofoils can create. 😅 I had exactly the same problem with ventilation on one of my crude hydrofoil designs from a couple of years ago. Should have read that book (rather than only watching the summary) as this is the first time I've learned what that strange behaviour is called!

[@thinkflight]

Yeah hand made stuff probably won't cut it here darn it

[@nomedaparalosmedicamentos]

3d printing, fiberglassing and vacuuming could work, it kinda did for rctestflight

[@ericlotze7724]

@@thinkflight I guess you will need to diy/buy a 3D Printer, and CNC Router/Mill then... Sure would be tragic...

[@ericlotze7724]

Jokes aside that is an option, but as Shingo Shōji pointed out, and you did at 11:18 I think various composites methods, as well as just making the scale slightly larger should work, right?

[@ericlotze7724]

Also just pure determination / us collectively crossing our fingers for ya?

[@Wingman4l7]

I always underestimate how much I enjoy the encounters you and rctestflight have with the public when testing out your designs. It truly takes a village to do experimental RC!

[@OzAndyify]

Good fun. Foilers are really tricky! You might want to try supercavitating foils at this tiny scale - Just a simple slim wedge with a fat, square TE. They are normally far less efficient until high speeds are reached, but can handle cavitation and ventilation better. A ladder arrangement might also give better stability and less ventilation.

[@thinkflight]

That is quite an interesting suggestion on going to supercavitating foils. Hmmmm......

[@OzAndyify]

@@thinkflight Worth a try!

[@Dovorans]

Really cool project! Some thoughts to deal with the ventilation problem. Wing fences might halt the movement of the ventilation down to the tip. A ladder foil might also give you the increasing lift with depth while ensuring that most of the foils are fully submerged instead of piercing. You could also used a fully submerged foil for most of your lift, and have the piercing foils for stability be significantly steeper. Finally, propeller underwater is far more efficient than in air, that might give you the edge you need to transition to full solar power.

[@thinkflight]

Fences were tried, but the rest remains to be tried. The next version will be swappable for submerged propulsion if the air props won't cut it.

[@shminz6093]

I second the steep piercing foils! Trade off some, not all of the self correcting for better ventilation protection

[@awood12345]

Love this channel. I've wanted to build a solar powered hydrofoil for ages.

[@thinkflight]

You should!

[@captainobvious9188]

I came across this channel while doing research on how I could make a rigid wingsail with integrated solar - I want to convert a catamaran sailboat to all electric/wingsail with control systems to make piloting simple. Between cells covering the roof and wingsail I should have a pretty good average PV production with a smaller wingsail giving a solid assist. You have lots of awesome stuff! Thanks for sharing your projects!

[@AerialWaviator]

Great dedication and effort. This clearly seen at 10:15 where a thumb is seen with more red paint than the just sanded foils. Good progress achieved. Especially in understanding where the real challenges lay. Wondering is could add equivalent to a vortex generator to the foil just under the ideal waterline? My thinking being if could direct a bit of water to flow up the foil, to suppress the air from flowing down. Also thinking about wing loading. With planes a stall is much more abrupt at higher wing loading, thus greatly increasing recovery time. FYI: a couple years ago I learned of solar powered hydrofoil boat races that university students in the Netherlands participate. There are also human powered hydrofoil races picture a human on a bicycle frame on a hydrofoil. This may provide some inspiration.

[@paralinq]

Always awesome to see you come along and take things to a new level!

[@thinkflight]

I appreciate that!

[@johnsmithfakename8422]

I find hydrofoil boats to be the most interesting invention for water craft, because they can be the peak in efficiency (with current technology) for water movement.

[@thinkflight]

Its just that dang seaweed.... lol

[@adamhale6672]

Your manufacturing ability and quality far surpasses anything I have seen (sorry Daniel). What you call a "simple test rig" is good enough to be my graduate research project.

[@thecatofnineswords]

I wonder if putting disturbers, or mini fins on the hydrofoils could help stop the ventilation. You're foiling at very low speeds, which is really good and encouraging.

[@HAL_9001]

Outdoor-rated plastic coatings often enough block UV really well. If you're using fancy triple-junction cells that have a broad blue-doped junction and a red junction with a small sensitivity to UV, and you're using them in vacuum (or no ozone) you could see a pretty large net power loss. Using recreational/industrial single- or even dual-junction cells below an ozone layer I would expect the layup to have more effect than the fact that you've coated the cells with plastic. the diffraction if the glass fibers may have some slight reduction on direct, 90-degree light absorption, but since it will be operating in all sorts of orientations, I'd expect the reduced falloff to make up for it. I'm also curious to see what you find.

[@fluiditynz]

It's on my to-do list too. Currently working up the code using ESP32-S2 micros for the wireless coms, implementing controller end rotary encoders, joysticks and model end servo PWM and LIDAR or Sonar height sensing. Also considering pressure sensors on struts instead of lidar. Solar cells on order. Hydrofoil designs from my wingsurfing R&D experiments.

[@JustAnotherBigby]

The camera falling as a virtual facepalm is pretty funny. I can't wait to see your eventual success...

[@thinkflight]

Haha somebody finally noticed! 😅

[@morkovija]

Exactly my thought - better lift, larger wingspan - perfect candidate for electrification

[@NicholasRehm]

I can.. uhhhh..relate to the stubbornness leading to lots of iterations hahaha I'm wondering if you're dead set on passive altitude holding with the angled hydrofoils or if you're thinking of going with active stabilization like Daniel did?

[@thinkflight]

Yeah, its a thing.... Not dead set on passive at all, mulling all possibilities.

[@kanedewilde]

Love this video, I deal with this issue a lot, and with good success designing wing and surf hydrofoils. The main factors are airfoil, “breach” angle, loading, and surface finish. I’d recommend trying out different wing dihedral angles and blend radius from the vertical to diagonal surface.

[@thinkflight]

Thank you for this comment. After adding more power yesterday and seeing its behavior I decided I wanted to steepen the dihedral angle and see what happens so I'm glad you are suggesting along those lines. By breach angle do you mean AOA at the water/air interface? When I go the molding route I will definitely blend out those nasty bends.

[@kanedewilde]

@@thinkflight breach angle is basically dihedral. I’ve found the more perpendicular the interface between the water and wing, the less likely ventilation is to occur. A few other things you could play with are washout and an adjustable stabilizer. Washout could decrease the difference in angle between the wings and stabilizer as height increases. This should move the center of pressure back and help unload the front wing and self regulate height. Small changes in size and angle can make a huge difference. I generally tune in half, degree increments. An adjustable stabilizer could be made from thin aluminum and allow you to tune the set angle by bending it. In surfing hydrofoils getting the stabilizer size and trim right is critical in achieving an easy and controlled ride. Hope this helps, I’ve been wanting to make something like this as an towed or rc fpv camera rig.

[@thinkflight]

@@kanedewilde I found yesterday that a steeper angle eliminated my problem by 99%. Went from 22deg to about 50deg at the surface. I was also thinking of washout, so I am glad to hear you validate that. At double the scale I should also be able to hotwire these foils instead of hand shape, so I think these changes will do the trick. Will also think on a precise drag free way to adjust stab angle.

[@kanedewilde]

@@thinkflight that’s awesome to hear! Excited to see the video 🤙🏼

[@mug6804]

Do you have any books you recommend for learning about efficient wing design?

[@dvd5685]

Yeah it would help a lot when you would share that with us

[@thinkflight]

Sure! www.amazon.com/Aircraft-Basic-Science-Eighth-Michael/dp/0071799176

[@mug6804]

@@thinkflight Thank you!

[@iamkian]

we just finished building our 1st e-foil. it's an inflatable with a Gong 64cm mast and a XL wing. before this we build 2 jet boards.

[@thinkflight]

Thats awesome!

[@TheI3utcher]

I was looking forward to you releasing your next video. I also want to design a WIG and build it. You are much further than most people and it has been a good learning experience watching your videos. Thanks for the hours of informative content. I appreciate you.

[@JosephHarner]

Had a thought about ventilation reduction. If the hydrofoils slope forwards as they pierce the water, that might help the air pockets to shed instead of expanding down along the length of the foil. This is due to the added challenge of the air needing to flow upstream instead of being dragged along downstream.

[@Aboriginal_Alien]

Dude your nailing the concept here just add a sail and you have the basic form of the future of global transportation of consumer goods. Imagine massive solar powered sailing hydrofoil Ekranoplan drones driven by AI in concert with weather satellites transporting global resources!

[@frackcha]

Great project! Very cool indeed! If the ventilation is caused by the air creeping down the surface piercing foils, could you alleviate this by making the vertical part of the foil angled or sorta negatively swept?

[@thinkflight]

Its usually on the lifting portion where the ventilating starts.

[@frackcha]

@@thinkflight forgive me for not making myself clear. The vertical supports that mount the foils to the hull are 90 degrees to the surface of the water, if instead the supports were, say 45 degrees to the surface, so they have the appearance of being negatively swept. Surely the air won't be able to creep down the supports cos at speed the water would climb up the supports. (Good lord, i don't know why this is so difficult to express.. i hope I'm making myself clear)

[@Lux158]

There are some researches indicating that a variation in foul shape enlarges the time/speed you could „drive“ without cavitation effects.. often referred to as humpback rudders/foils

[@macrumpton]

Perhaps some auxiliary foils that are normally out of the water but if the boat trips they become submerged to stop the nose diving. also canting the foils lower part forward would reduce ventilation.

[@thinkflight]

I was just considering this the other day!

[@kennethkostka9309]

Thats cool. Looks like it could benefit to have taller foils for the waves.

[@AN-vy8pd]

Hi. you can use a 3D printer for maximum accuracy in repeating corners. You can print a frame or skeleton and reinforce it with fiberglass or carbon. For more strength

[@ericlotze7724]

No need to freak out about not producing videos fast enough etc. Don't let the Content Treadmill get to your head; it can seriously fuck up your mental health. And Besides, we are here for your amazing projects, even if they take a bit of time. Great video+project, and keep up the great work!

[@thinkflight]

It can, gotta set a trotting pace and not a sprint!

[@malloot9224]

Nice project, should try to get way more panels, you are a boat you can build heavier then this. Also encapsule the panels with solar laminate, 98% light transmission. The panels are usually in a flexible layer with a harder plastic layer on top and a white backing. The white backing increases efficiency a bit.

[@pauljs75]

I think I saw some series of videos for free on KZbin that presented the same stuff in the book mentioned. (Has the video noise and 3:4 ratio, so somebody went through the trouble to convert old VHS recordings too.) However the presentation is more bone dry than most college lectures with slow pacing, so it's perhaps better to take notes and be able to skip to key parts to stay awake. You don't really have to buy the book, but it might be more convenient.

[@matthewconnor5483]

Looks like you need something like an fence on the hydro foil to keep the air from working into the low pressure are.

[@skypilot23]

great work- you need a small rescue boat- it could be rc

[@thinkflight]

I do, send me one haha :)

[@teamrapidus2411]

Take a look at the hydroptere, they solved the ventilation issue with steps on the foils:)

[@thinkflight]

Will do

[@riccardotommasoni2504]

You could try canting the foils forward so that the water flow tries to push th air out of the water, in vellinga's book he said that this feature may also increase stability a little bit.

[@riccardotommasoni2504]

I'm not sure if "canting" is the right word, i can't speak english very well, maybe "swooping" ins a better term for what i am trying to say

[@IteKLF]

You should take a look at how the Hobie trifoiler works. I buildt a rc version of the concept several years ago. Submerged foils and mechanically self stabilizing. Also, why havent I subscribed here earlier!! Nice channel!

[@thinkflight]

Thanks for the tip!

[@Rostol]

solar panel efficiency decreases with heat so the best day is a cold sunny spring or late winter day. you could improve their efficiency by cooling them with a thin metal back and a heatpipe down to the water, but I don't think it will ever compensate for the added weight.

[@thinkflight]

Maybe an added bonus for having air propellers drawing/pushing air over the panels.

[@jasongooden917]

You can sacrifice sone stainless steel dinner knives for the hydrofoils. The blades already have a basic wing shape, plus the are very strong.

[@ezrarichardson279]

You’ll get there! Would adding small vertical fins to the wings to avoid span wise flow (probably not quite the right term in those case) to allow their to be less of a chance of the air pocket spreading?

[@thinkflight]

On hydrofoils those are called fences. I did try that on these, no luck😒

[@MaxNippard]

Agree, pretty much every outboard motor leg has cavitation plates for the same reason. Plus they can look cool like on old MIGs

[@MaxNippard]

@@thinkflight I guess the fences/anti cavitation plates don't scale down that small well. The smallest ones I've seen are at least an inch out from the foil or outboard motor leg which would be much more area than the actual foil. :-(

[@jacobdavidcunningham1440]

5:45 kitty! 9:12 ooh wonder if you need some kind of pitch stabilization to go fast

[@thinkflight]

Probably, but I don't know for sure yet.

[@enopto]

Built a solar powered UAV with glassed C60 cells, it worked wonderfully. Compared to bare cells, the glassed cells only lost 2.4% efficiency. I could see you overcoming the solar deficit by increasing the upper surface area, adding additional cells, and replacing the direct drive motor with a geared motor or lower kV motor with bigger prop. I’d love to see what you’re using for electronics…assuming Genasun gv10 and 18650 cells. Check out my (crappy) vids to see my set up running. Can’t wait to see more progress…

[@thinkflight]

I'd love to know how you glassed the cells. I will definitely share all the electronics when all the bumps are worked out, they just weren't too relevant to this video but it's coming.

[@enopto]

​@@thinkflight Original reply got deleted for some reason, thank God or a nerd for CTRL C... The process is pretty simple and would work for your application if you cut your deck from foam and eliminate that bump, or move it to the bottom of the deck. After you've hot wired your deck (assuming airfoil shape), you use the top negative side of the foam core to assemble your solar cell array upside down over parchment paper. Tape the cells together upside down over the negative core as they would sit on you deck. Solder them all together and ensure they're positioned appropriately. Shoot the back side of the cells with super 77 and let sit for a minute. Place the bare foam deck in the negative core, allowing the super 77 on the cells to adhere to the foam deck for a couple minutes. Carefully flip everything over and remove the core, you should have the cells stuck to your deck. Remove the parchment paper and put the deck with the cells in a vacuum bag sitting on the lower negative side of the deck core. I like to cover the cells with mylar to help press the cells into the foam. After 12 hours, pull the deck. The super 77 should be dry and all of the cells should be stuck down flush into the foam deck. From here, you simply glass and vacuum bag the deck as you would any composite wing with a few exceptions. Lay some carbon on the leading edge of the deck for bump resistance but make sure not to cover the cells. The bottom deck surface can use whatever cloth and saturation level you want. The top deck surface over the cells requires 2 layers of bias 45° 3/4oz cloth with minimal saturation. Apply your mylars over the top and bottom surfaces, apply breather (paper towel), sandwich everything in your negative cores, and toss it all in the vacuum bag for 24 hours. Viola! you should have a super sturdy deck section that's waterproof. Obviously during all of this, you'll want to account for wire routing. I just run the tabbing out to the root ends. It's also really easy to dremel away any glass to gain access to tabbing under the glass surface if necessary. Hope that helps. If this is all crazy talk, you can email me [e-mail], I'd be happy to help yah out. Been meaning to make some serious videos with this but life, work, and motorcycle builds get in the way.

[@nickhomer40]

Hey, if it doesn't compromise your privacy, would you mind sharing where that lake at around 06:00 is? Great video as always! Love these unique projects!

[@thinkflight]

Naaaahhhh :)

[@bradley3549]

It seems to me that a forward swept hydrofoil strut (ala X-29 plane) would help prevent ventilation.

[@christopherleveck6835]

I use the same photocells that you're using their you can cut those. You can come in a multiple pieces no matter what these pieces going to make .6 volts with less amps. In my case it helped me get a small power plane to fly with NO battery at 7 volts instead of 3.....they are easy to cut with a Dremel. I use a laser cutter. Did you test your power before you covered the cells? And what did you cover them with? When putting down an iron on film, start by taking down the edges with as few wrinkles as you can. Don't seal them just tack it every few inches to help keep the film straight. Use a heat gun and a hand towel. Start at one edge and as you heat the film follow behind the heat gun with the towel and in a wiping motion push the film towards the other end. You won't get bubbles. If you do, get a sharp needle and puncture the bubbles heat them and wipe over them with the towel always working towards the edge.

[@thinkflight]

I would be leery of going at these with a dremel but if I had a laser cutter I would totally section the cells. Key advice on covering with film, much gratitude.

[@happyhelpfulhoovy]

For the foils, would you consider using a resin 3d printer to get replicable, smooth foils? Also for the solar cells, I've used the SunPower cells on a solar car project and we encapsulated them in EVA with a heat pad to get a clean finish. Saying that, there's only so good you can get with a film. The ultimate yet slightly unachievable goal, would be just having completely flat, non-curved surfaces and using glass encapsulation for the cells.

[@thinkflight]

My buddy can mold some foils so I will probably go that route, if he wasn't available I'd be open to other options. This doesn't need to be that aerodynamic, if the film gets into the gaps in between cells I won't cry so I appreciate your suggestion a lot actually.

[@martindinner3621]

If you can go thin enough, glass can be safely curved....and with proper heat treatment it will hold that curve.

[@dholzhammer]

Hi, great project, how about using carbon RC helicopter blades for foils ? strong and good airfoil shapes

[@ianwinson2642]

Would increasing the diameter of the propeller on it make efficient enough for this solar setup? Awesome video, just subscribed!

[@thinkflight]

Yes, absolutely

[@nerokcubreva]

nice! it would be cool to see an autonomously landing rc plane? many a cargo inspired design?

[@thinkflight]

That would be cool!

[@LWJCarroll]

Interesting to watch thanks…the new Americas Cup yachts must have figured this out? Plus I think the Moth class and a single person smaller one. Not a yachting here but have seen them on the news etc here…. Laurie NZ.

[@BornIIfly]

& I‘d like to develop nano plasma ion thrusters for my nano drone. What coincidence, glad you achieved your goal, mines would have to take a bit longer 🤦🏻‍♂️ Take care

[@homienat3374]

I really enjoyed watching that mate hope you succeeded in ya project s🤙🤙

[@fullsendmarinedarwin7244]

how cool would a full sized (20ft or so) version of this be!!

[@Mekanik.b]

Maybe 1 big foil across the front might help

[@shawnrinkel8377]

What about fences? Cord wise flat plates that stay under the water level that keep the low pressure under the water?

[@thinkflight]

Tried that, made it worse.

[@otm646]

Instead of fiberglass on top of your solar array could you not use a thin coating of polyurethane, epoxy or mylar epoxy to the surface for waterproofing? The structure can be on the back side.

[@thinkflight]

Probably, this was a one step attempt that didn't work out so well. A two step process may give better results if I can find a dust free place for it to cure.

[@therealfearsome]

fences on the foil pylons will help prevent ventilation

[@rohansully584]

I see people riding hydrofoil boards every day in my town. Kiteboarding with hydrofoils. The foils can't be that precise, as they get a little knocked around by the sand, yet they don't seem to have any issues with ventilation. I suppose it is the scale?

[@thinkflight]

Kiteboards usually (always?) ride submerged foils instead of the surface piercing foils, which helps. And yes, the scale is also another factor. But as you can see the rear foil on this is a submerged foil, and it never ventilates either and was made the same way as the front foils that keep ventilating.

[@rohansully584]

@@thinkflight what’s the principle/ goal of keeping the front foils surface piercing then?

[@thinkflight]

@@rohansully584 Automatic roll and ride height stabilization in all conditions/speeds. So mechanically simpler, less to go wrong. IF you get them working that is....

[@pauljs75]

@@thinkflight The trailing foil being stable might suggest there may be some quality of vorticity from the leading foil that could be possibly useful. Might be interesting to see if strakes or leading edge extensions may have a use in this case. Perhaps a little dart protrusion on the front with stubby winglets as vortex generators might be a way to calm stability or stall/ventilation issues? (Might be other ways that work better, but trying to picture something that seems simple enough.)

[@photocreation34]

Hi I'm pretty interested on how you have managed to connect solar cells to the battery and the BMS. I'm working on a student project for the CNES (the french NASA). Can you give us some tips please ? Thank you very much 😊

[@thinkflight]

I forget which RCTestFlight video it was but one of his solar plane videos has a straightforward diagram on it.

[@tiagotiagot]

Regarding the ventilation issue, what would happen if you had the foils swept forward, with the tip leading and the section that crosses the surface of the water trailing behind, would that help?

[@thinkflight]

Supposedly yes, right now it has a few degrees of forward sweep. Further tests indicate a steeper dihedral angle at the location of breach is very helpful and is probably the root problem.

[@DAndyLord]

It seems like putting "hair" on the trailing edge of the foil might cause some extra drag but would break up any air pockets on the wings. Or cause excessive air pockets, I'm not a scientist.

[@thinkflight]

I don't know actually! You sure are thinking like a scientist though

[@DAndyLord]

@@thinkflight Or, perhaps, a single strand of "hair" from the lowest point on the wing on a floater. Allowing the air pocket to escape upwards. Either way, cool AF project!

[@KaliKavala]

Seems like it is dipping on one side only. Even with 3 different pairs of foils. Sooo could it be something related to the air vortex of the propeller?

[@thinkflight]

No, the AOA wasn't equally set between the foils. Just bad craftsmanship :)

[@srinathreddy2032]

Can u explain me how did u cover the solar cells will be helpful for my solar plane

[@thinkflight]

It didn't work great so I wouldn't bother copying it.

[@srinathreddy2032]

@@thinkflight because of the fiber glass and epoxy blocking the solar cells ?

[@thinkflight]

@@srinathreddy2032 The finish was terrible and probably hurt performance.

[@thebikeracer]

could it be a balance or location error with the foils?

[@RW1LD]

So ... would it be more efficient to have props or propellers? Air vs water

[@thinkflight]

dunno, probably water

[@oishialloadmin]

and cool project ofcourse !!

[@DIYwithBatteries]

Nice video Sir 🙂👍

[@ChristieNel]

It would be interesting if you had trimmable foils.

[@thinkflight]

I went back and forth trying to decide.... Still considering direction on bigger vessel.

[@bukscoetzer]

Great Video....very interesting....One Comment if I may...Please check your audio Balance....some parts are super soft and other super loud....

[@thinkflight]

You wouldn't believe how much effort went into making it as good as it is lol. It is frustrating....

[@bukscoetzer]

@Think Flight still a great video...maybe get a lapel mic..

[@thinkflight]

@@bukscoetzer This one sounds better tho

[@punkinhaidmartin]

how many ounces of payload will it carry?

[@daemn42]

What if the foils were angled both down and forward a bit so the water is always trying to evacuate the air?

[@thinkflight]

That is one trick. I think I found the main culprit right after posting this video, we'll see how that pans out.

[@Suro_One]

Really cool! Good luck

[@jamessellards7157]

Does it also use grip ground efect to implement the hydro foil?

[@thinkflight]

Yep!

[@jorehir]

Wouldn't a strake (well placed 90° on each foil) avoid ventilation?

[@comptegoogle511]

At this scale, it's hard to have a big enough Reynolds number for the hydrofoil to be efficient. You're closer to a water ski efficiency than a hydrofoil efficiency.

[@leeharrison3276]

Is the boat a wing as well?

[@thinkflight]

It is....

[@eckern0]

I am curious about efficiency of air vs water propulsion. I've been wanting to build a water-propeller hydrofoil for a while but I'm still looking for a satisfactory low-profile right-angle drive.

[@thinkflight]

Just put the motor in the water?

[@eckern0]

@@thinkflight I've seen people do that! I really wonder how long they last though. Especially in salt water.

[@martindinner3621]

@@eckern0 in fresh water they actually work better, so long as proper bearing lubrication is maintained. (Better cooling) Can't speak to saltwater.

[@Helicopterpilot16]

If it has an aerofoil, it's in my DNA.

[@BenRyherd]

WHEW! That was close at 1:50

[@marc_frank]

how about submerged foils with dihedral? like a ✔️ i really like the diatone 1505's, too

[@thinkflight]

You would have no altitude control at that point, so you would need active surfaces. That is the main advantage of the surface piercers, they control your altitude automatically.

[@sharpsticksnz4112]

The propeller pushing air is far less efficient than the propeller pushing water. As you want to power it solely off of solar put a prop in the water like most boats

[@christopherleveck6835]

Connect the foils to each other to make one foil that stretches the width of the boat and these problems will all go away....

[@Bob_Adkins]

Seems to me the canted foils would be very draggy.

[@PR15125]

There are big jumps in sound volume in the videos. One moment I cannot hear anything and make it louder, next moment video volume changes and it is way too loud. Consider keeping video volume consistent.

[@ioannisbatas1614]

Superb !!!

[@festungkurland9804]

put a fence on the wing like on a mig 17/19 wing then the cavitation cannot go down the whole wing

[@nomen_omen]

awesome video nonetheless

[@christopherleveck6835]

I want to help. I have tons of tooling, big machines and lots of materials and electronics. Is there anything you need to help advance the project? I've been building airplanes and designing them in composites and wood for 40 years....

[@thinkflight]

Depends a little on where you are located, but yeah reach out to my email and lets chat.

[@sUASNews]

Shew this is cool

[@MrCurt500]

Nice project 👍🏻. I have build a submerged active stabilized foil system on a full scale solar "race" boat for our university solarboat team (Video of the first test ride with the foil system: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGbTk5uahLN2eMU ). From the looks of it I would suggest your foils need to be more angled --> benefit less ventilation; downside --> less efficient. And/or maybe some fins in flow direction acting as a barrier for the air bubble (same up and downside).

[@thinkflight]

I appreciate your approach much more than when I started this project. Love the stabilization system on yours!

[@juliana.rilveria5518]

My friend you need to check out and look this up on KZbin: solar rc boat pulled raft 20 miles... the only reason I because it very similar to your project the only difference is that his was a catamaran and your was a hydrofoil catamaran...

[@pauljs75]

You do know that's the same guy he went up to visit in the second half of this video?

[@kmonnier]

I get confused between you and rctestflight channel thumbnails due to very similar color schemes.

[@thinkflight]

I was thinking the same thing....

[@JoeGator23]

Striking the bottom in shallow water is all it took to make me realise this concept could leave you stranded or crashed easily... there has to be a better idea.

[@Dawn2DuskAdventuring]

Get a paddle board so you can self rescue 😂

[@thinkflight]

or a paddle hydrofoil lol

[@gafrers]

Interesting

[@oishialloadmin]

there is a kyosho blizzard...

[@gefginn3699]

I want a life size one. 🥰💪😇⭐

[@thinkflight]

Me too!

[@charlestaylor3195]

Drat, foiled again, but not forever.

[@thinkflight]

Hahahahah

[@kuzadupa185]

Your justification is far simpler. It's your channel.

[@Noname-gz1gx]

nice

[@youtuberschannel12]

Why did you make one submerged and another surface piercing? That's stupid.