Centaur Seaplane plc.

New Capabilities

Current Seaplanes

Flying boats and float plane hull concepts all stem from the 1930's. As a result, new seaplanes have no better wave handling characteristics and little better performance than seaplanes designed over 60 years ago. Yet, there are more piston-engined seaplanes in the world than there are piston-engined helicopters, the market pays typically twice as much per useful seat in amphibians than in landplanes and seaplanes are in demand more than ever.

If the "ball-and-chain" issues that constrain seaplanes are removed, this will enable markets for light aircraft to expand across coastlines globally, to where there are no airfields, to where islands are too small to cut airstrips, and to where coastlines are too mountainous or just too developed … to anywhere boats go.

The old problem of corrosion-in-salt-water issue can be corrected by many suppliers using the new generation of composites. However, this is of little value when the resulting aircraft can still neither handle common coastal wave conditions, nor access marinas or dockside facilities due to their large wing-spans. Hence better hull forms are needed and wings have to be folded.

This is the business of Centaur Seaplane plc. With exclusive use of the new hull concepts, improved configuration features and choice material and system technologies, the capabilities are being developed in the Centaur amphibious aircraft. Underpinning the new capabilities, a series of design features work in conjunction with each other …

Picture of Centaur model planing, front end on

Better hull forms for hard work and wave-handling

In the late 1950's, conventional seaplane hull shapes were getting slimmer and losing weight. Performance was on their way up. Glenn Martin (subsequently Lockheed Martin) had sights on: "… a significantly superior hydrodynamic solution to many current problems… greatly reduced conflict between hydrodynamic, aerodynamic and structural requirements … and vastly expanded potentialities of water based aircraft in general." Yet these shapes did not reach the General Aviation market.

With the use of slender hulls with wave-piercing bows derived from more recent developments in the fast-ferry and racing-yacht industries, even better can be done. A new patented hybrid hull has been developed by Centaur Seaplane plc's own team using a conceptual approach which re-writes conventional texts on seaplane hull design. This fundamentally reduces hydrodynamic drag and structural weight. With less drag in the air and its ability to handle twice as rough water as conventional seaplane hulls, the opportunity is born.

Corrosion resistant materials for low maintenance and long life

Long-lived racing yachts and composite aircraft now use the same materials and manufacture processes. Also using stainless steel and titanium fittings, corrosion can almost be entirely designed out of the next generation of seaplane structure. With this comes low maintenance, value retention, longevity and better operating options.

Aerodynamics for lift and efficiency

The Centaur's low stub-wing uses ground-effect aerodynamics to aid low take-off speed. This is helped by a continuous flap through the wing center-section which provides much lift in the propeller slip-stream. Also aiding performance and contrasting to many others, the Centaur can readily by loaded to its aft CG position at maximum gross weight, to enable it to fly in its most efficient configuration when heavily loaded. These features work to both give the Centaur performance and capacity in excess of others and to give it docile and attractive flying qualities.

Configuration for access to boat facilities

While taxiing on water, the outer wing panels can be unlocked and folded back to within the beam of the sponsons, so that a Centaur can be berthed in any marina or tied up against the side of a dock or ship. An electric water thruster is used for approaching and maneuvering in marina/dock environments. The stub-wings provide superb loading platforms and access to the cabin.