Re: Question for Pat- "SKIPJACK" exhaust: reply...

[Jon Hylands <hylands@ibm.net>]

On Fri, 10 Dec 1999 22:02:57 -1000, "Captain Nemo" <vulcania@interpac.net>
wrote:

> As far as the VASH project goes; where can I find a picture of it? 

You can see pics of the VASH at http://www.bionicdolphin.com. The pictures
link has a lot of good pics, and you can see a good one of the bobbed tail
and exhaust exit at http://www.bionicdolphin.com/old/fp/pictures/back1.jpg

I'll copy some info here that I posted to this list a year and a half
ago...

Here is some Bionic Dolphin (VASH) information.

 - about 12' long
 - 600 lbs (very positively buoyant)
 - carbon/kevlar/spectra outer shell
 - fiberglass inner shell around pilot
 - closed cell hard foam filler (sprayed in)
 - kevlar/foam composite bulkheads
 - partial F-16 canopy
 - 200 HP two-stroke V6
 - cut-off tail flat, which created a vortex while moving submerged
    -- helped to draw out the exhaust
 - builder has had it down to 50 feet
 - could stay down for two minutes - engine had a compressed air supply
 - did not have any type of scrubber, cockpit air just got stale
 - hydroplaned on surface at 85 mph, submerged up to 35 mph

The project was a success from a mechanical standpoint, but they were not
able to market it. The Coast Guard requires certification of any dry
one-atmosphere submersible being sold to the public, and they will not
certify anything that has a fiberglass inner hull. It has to be steel,
aluminum, titanium, etc.

Later,
Jon

--------------------------------------------------------------
   Jon Hylands      Jon@huv.com      http://www.huv.com/jon

  Project: Micro Seeker (Micro Autonomous Underwater Vehicle)
           http://www.huv.com