The new giant aircraft model in DARPA’s project can carry 3,000 passengers gliding over the ocean at high speeds.
Aerocon Wingship is twice the size of a Boeing 747 passenger jet. With a capacity of thousands of passengers and 1,500 tons of cargo, this 400-ton machine, measuring 173 meters in length, is a design funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Engineers expect this colossal aircraft to travel over 19,300 meters, powered by 20 rocket engines mounted along the wings near the nose of the plane, Sun reported on August 14.
The Aerocon Wingship will glide above the ocean surface instead of flying high. (Photo: Tim Samedov)
However, unlike most aircraft that fly at altitudes above 1,000 meters, Aerocon Wingship will hover above the water thanks to ground effect. This effect creates a layer of air bubbles beneath the aircraft, similar to a hovercraft, allowing the vehicle to move faster with significantly higher stability.
The aircraft is designed to fly across the Atlantic Ocean between the United States and Europe. With its impressive range, the vehicle can fly continuously from the U.S. to Japan, Australia, China, or nearly anywhere in the world. The Aerocon Wingship has a wingspan of 100 meters, nearly as wide as a football field. This machine can carry a volume 30 times that of a Boeing 747, transporting cargo like a ship at aircraft speeds while gliding at an altitude of 30 meters above the ocean surface. The Aerocon Wingship is also expected to become a luxury aircraft equipped with sleeping cabins, a bar, and a restaurant, resembling a flying hotel or a giant cruise ship.
Steven Hooker, the chief designer of the aircraft model, dreamed of creating the Aerocon Wingship after seeing similar vehicles in the Soviet Union, such as the Caspian Sea Monster. This was a ground effect vehicle prototype that could reach speeds of 500 km/h. However, Hooker believes he can achieve better performance and designed the Aerocon Wingship to be ten times larger than the Sea Monster.
The Aerocon Wingship project has a development cost of up to $600 million. The U.S. military has considered purchasing 13 aircraft at a total cost of $15 billion. DARPA’s project could serve troop transport needs in rapid response situations. It is estimated that the vehicle can carry 32 helicopters, 20 tanks, 4 landing craft, and 2,000 soldiers.
