Necker Nymph
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Necker Nymph |
| Owner: | Virgin Limited Edition |
| Operator: | Virgin Oceanic |
| Builder: | Hawkes Ocean Technologies |
| Cost: | £415,000 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | DeepFlight Merlin |
| Displacement: | 750kg |
| Length: | 4.6m |
| Beam: | 3.0m |
| Capacity: | 3 |
| Crew: | 1 |
Necker Nymph is an open-cockpit submersible vehicle (a wet sub) that relies on hydrodynamic forces for anti-lift force, and is positively buoyant. It is the initial example of the DeepFlight Merlin class of submersibles manufactured by Hawkes Ocean Technologies, based on the DeepFlight submersible technology.[1] The Nymph is operated by Virgin Aquatic,[2] from the 105-foot yacht Necker Belle[3] that is based at the Virgin Limited Edition resort Necker Island.[4]
The Nymph is 15-feet long, capable of 360-degree "hydrobatic" maneuvers, diving up to 130-feet underwater, seating one pilot and two passengers in an open cockpit (necessitating wearing scuba gear).[5][6][7] Occupants have a "windscreen" to protect them from the water's slipstream. It is the first of the DeepFlight Merlin series of submersibles.[8]
References
- ↑ gizmag.com, "Necker Nymph: underwater flying becomes Virgin territory", Noel McKeegan, 21 January 2010 (accessed 25 July 2010)
- ↑ Time Magazine, "Virgin Founder Richard Branson", Dan Fletcher, 1 September 2009 (accessed 25 July 2010)
- ↑ SuperYachts.com, "Necker Nymph ‘Underwater Aircraft’ announced by Virgin Limited Edition" (accessed 25 July 2010)
- ↑ New York Daily News, "Richard Branson's latest toy? An underwater plane called 'Necker Nymph'", Catey Hill, Monday 1 February 2010 (accessed 25 July 2010)
- ↑ Jaunted.com, "Richard Branson Has a New Toy: An Airplane-like Submarine!", 2 February 2010 (accessed 25 July 2010)
- ↑ Forbes.com, "What billionaires do on summer vacations", Katie Evans, 16 June 2010 (accessed 25 July 2010)
- ↑ The Sun (London), "Submergin' Atlantic", Richard Moriarty, 29 January 2010 (accessed 25 July 2010)
- ↑ Daily Mail, "What to get the man who has everything? An underwater plane of course", Claire Bates, 29 January 2010 (accessed 25 July 2010)
External links
- Necker Belle, Necker Nymph webpage (official)
- Necker Island, Necker Nymph webpage (official)
- Virgin Limited Edition, Necker Nymph webpage (official)