Though it looks like an unmanned drone, and probably a tiny one at that, the Waterspout is no flying shrimp. The autonomous craft is designed to fly up to 80 miles, pick up two passengers, and return to its starting point on the open ocean.
The small helicopter, designed by a team from Technion University in Israel and Penn State, would be able to launch from a submarine swimming 50 feet below the surface. The craft would float to the surface, deploy its blades, take off even in rough seas, and fly autonomously to pick up its passengers. And, naturally, it would also use stealth technology, since you can imagine that this robo-chopper won't be deployed for run-of-the-mill pick-ups.—Gregory Mone
Not the first instance of helicopters launched from sub. The Germans did that during WW2, mostly in the pacific, to spot ships. Recovery was tedious and if a warship was approaching the sub just dived, leaving the helicopter adrift.
Posted by: DoesNotMatter | November 07, 2007 at 03:27 PM
Not that it is a big deal, but the devices the Germans used in WWII weren't helicopters so much as kites that required the sub to be moving in order for them to fly.
Posted by: Scott | November 07, 2007 at 03:48 PM
Was that a helicopter or a captive autogyro launched and towed by a surfaced sub?
Posted by: George Larson | November 07, 2007 at 03:50 PM
There's one in the Air Force museum at Dayton, OH. I was always fascinated by pics of those as a kid.
Posted by: Leslie Johnson | November 07, 2007 at 05:33 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focke-Achgelis_Fa_330
Posted by: Leslie Johnson | November 07, 2007 at 05:34 PM
Hmmm, Badminton anyone?
Posted by: edh | November 07, 2007 at 08:06 PM
They were autogyros towed by the sub.
Posted by: BlackDog | November 08, 2007 at 07:28 PM
you would need a large badminton rack.
Posted by: wooch | November 09, 2007 at 12:54 AM
Did this ever make it past the planning stage? Looks interesting to me.
Steve
http://www.utilityhelicopter.com
Posted by: Steve | January 06, 2009 at 02:31 PM