At first glance, Pegasus looks like a foiling soapbox, but a second glance reveals a sophisticated design. Foil.one designer Eric Smits based it on the efficient contours of aeroplanes or sports cars such as the Lotus 49. The Argentinian, who lives in Finland, has been building foilers, including moths, since 2010. It is no coincidence that a rod attached to the front mast senses the waves and determines the movement of the flaps in the wings via a mechanism.
Up to 45 degrees possible with Pegasus
The 4.88 metre long flying boat is steered in a similarly pragmatic way using side levers that are connected to a quadrant. As the entire front mast rotates, it can be tilted up to 45 degrees. Thanks to a ten-kilowatt electric motor on the aft mast, the 200-kilogram carbon vehicle lifts off the surface of the water from ten knots and tops out at 30 knots.
Two Torqeedo batteries, each with a capacity of 5 kilowatt hours, allow 50 nautical mile trips. Storage on board the mother ship makes it easier to raise the masts. Pegasus "flies" from the company's own production facility in Helsinki and costs 139,900 euros.
