What's that flying, a foiling soapbox? It's getting closer. No, the design is too sophisticated. Carbon structures can be recognised. Pegasus, as the one-person spoiler is called, utilises the aerodynamics of Formula 1 cars from the 1950s. It is reminiscent of the cars driven by Juan Manuel Fangio. The front end bears a striking resemblance to the Lotus 49. 4.88 metres long, the Flying boat from Finland are characterised by the rounded, efficient contours of aircraft. This is complemented by the bold aesthetics of modern luxury cars, says designer and constructor Eric Smits.
The Argentinian founder of Foil.One has the best qualifications. He is a trained boat builder, studied shipbuilding at the University of Southampton and learnt the composite trade from the mast builders at Southern Spars in New Zealand. Technically, Smits was inspired by the Japanese hydrofoil pioneer Kotaro Horiuchi: Two foils stand in a row and are steered in a similar way to a bicycle. Pegasus relies on a clean energy solution and causes neither wake nor noise pollution.
Low-tech solutions for foil control
Smits, who lives in Finland, has been designing and building foiling boats since 2010, including Moths. He wanted his electric foiler to be as easy to operate as possible. It was no coincidence that he modelled the regulation of the flying height on that of the small flying dinghies. A rod attached to the front mast senses the waves and uses a mechanism to control the movement of the flaps, which are located in the trailing edge of the hydrofoil. Any oscillation of the rod results in an adjustment of the angle of attack. The absence of sensors and servos saves energy and simplifies maintenance and repairs. In addition, depending on the swell, the general flight altitude can be adjusted using a knob.
The steering is similarly simple. Side levers - wrapped in brown leather straps in keeping with the retro charm - are connected to a quadrant, made of carbon of course, via Dyneema cables and rotate the entire front mast. The mechanical control unit is easily accessible from above in front of the transparent coaming. Unusual for motorised foilers is the heeling in turns, which can be up to 45 degrees with tight turning radii.
Foil.One Pegasus: Up to 30 knots with a 10 kW motor
The propeller and ten-kilowatt electric motor unit is attached to the end of the aft mast. This enables Pegasus to break away from the water surface from ten knots, quickly reach 22 knots and top out at 30 knots. The thrust is regulated via a pedal. Two Torqeedo batteries, each with a capacity of 5 kWh, one at the front and one at the rear, are designed to allow 50 nautical miles of touring, which corresponds to around two hours of cruising fun at cruising speed. With a Torqeedo charger, each battery can be fully charged in less than two hours.
Storage on board mother ships makes it easier to raise the masts, allowing the wings to nestle against the underwater hull and the draught to shrink from a maximum of one metre to 30 centimetres. Logically, Pegasus is not completely analogue. A B&G display provides performance data and serves as a navigation system. Should a system failure occur or an automatic shutdown be necessary, a paddle and a lifebuoy are included in the elaborate carbon hull. Pegasus is manufactured in-house in Finland and costs 139,900 euros, excluding batteries and charger. With both batteries, the extravagant aircraft weighs just 200 kilograms.
Sören Gehlhaus
Stellvertretender Chefredakteur BOOTE EXCLUSIV
