Thailand produces its first seaplane

[bodga]

20 hours ago, Yinn said:

You can built a plane? 

Or not?

many, airfix, revell knocked  em all out, then again friend works for RR on their jet engines and way back in the early 1950s  my Father worked on jet engines that Thais didnt invent, sorting out  problems, said it was the best job he ever  had. Used to warm the hangars  by running em up

Edited October 3, 2020 by bodga

[PETERTHEEATER]

Strange that it has flown 200 hours without being publicized. 

 

Q1     Who is the prisoner in the blue cage?

 

Q2     A liquid-fuelled engine but, what engine type and what fuel? Is it a pusher installation?

        

 

Q3     The photo shows a purpose built steel structure. Is this a build jig?

 

Q4      Where are the landing wheels for ground use?

 

So many questions, so little time......

[Redline]

 

[Artisi]

4 hours ago, oneton said:

Wiki - On 28 March 1910, Frenchman Henri Fabre flew the first successful powered seaplane, the Gnome Omega-powered hydravion, a trimaran floatplane.

So 110 years later Thailand catch up ......

only 110 years, they should keep up the good work ....

[Cod Face]

20 hours ago, djayz said:

It's not about us being able to build planes, it's about the fact that this is nothing new. These machines have been in existence for decades.

 

Why certain people constantly try to reinvent the wheel - and then try to portray it as being some kind of great feat and a milestone in history - is beyond me. 

 

Imagine me making a plate of som dam for the first time and then telling the world that it was my brainchild. Simply ridiculous! 

No one has claimed that this is a new innovation,  that it is a great feat and a milestone in history or that it is their brainchild!   Why some posters constantly try to claim that is what the Thais have said, when that couldn't be further from the truth, is beyond me.

[Cod Face]

17 hours ago, jackdd said:

Shouldn't it be 145/20 = ~7 hours?

Only if you want it to potentially run out of fuel in the air, there has to be a reserve as planes are not designed to land on empty tanks generally.

[Cod Face]

42 minutes ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Where are the landing wheels for ground use?

Under the plane, look at the photos.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, poohy said:

I think they are saying it floats for bit but does not fly

 

Good God they have invented a boat!!

With wings, what could possibly go wrong.

[ronaldo0]

Not enough money in the world to get me on that ! ????

[colinneil]

17 minutes ago, ronaldo0 said:

Not enough money in the world to get me on that ! ????

Why? Somchai will carry spare rubber bands in case they are needed.????????????

[Cake Monster]

18 hours ago, steven100 said:

joy rides to ferry chinese up and down the Chao Phraya

Or taking the on Paddi Field hopping trips 

[fangless]

21 hours ago, Enoon said:

Seaplanes are divided into Floatplanes and Flying Boats.

 

Both may be classified as Amphibious.

 

Because the NAX-5 depends on a fuselage/hull for bouyancy it is an Amphibious Flying Boat.

 

This is an Amphibious Floatplane:

 

This is an Amphibious Flying Boat:

 

Floatplane:

 

Flying Boat:

 

All are Seaplanes.

 

 

If you wish to be pedantic I should point out that they are also all called aircraft!

I was only trying to point out that the "Aircraft" in question is capable of both land and sea operation and is therefore "amphibious" as opposed to being a a pure "Seaplane" capable of only seaborne operations!

 

 

 

Edited October 3, 2020 by fangless

[steven100]

A plastic seaplane made by Thais using local composite materials and wings added .....

an accident waiting to happen  !!

[ChouDoufu]

On 10/2/2020 at 5:58 PM, Yinn said:

You can built a plane? 

Or not?

 

yes, if you can handle basic handtools, you can build your own seaplane.  kits available for $25k...

 

https://www.walstromaviation.com/aero-adventure-kits

 

 

[billd766]

6 hours ago, khunPer said:

I had a friend, who build his own airplanes from scratch – two, to be accurate – so it can be done. One was build in his garage, the next one in a spare living room with huge sliding doors. I've also been flying with him, but not in his own planes, they were both one-seat.

My friend's uncle also build his own airplanes, and even he never got a license to fly, the civil aviation accepted him, as he had his own grass field for take-off and landing, and he had been been flying almost since flying in motor-aircrafts began...????

You really must stop posting good and positive news as it upsets the whiners, Thai bashers and those with a negative attitude to everything Thai.

[billd766]

28 minutes ago, steven100 said:

A plastic seaplane made by Thais using local composite materials and wings added .....

an accident waiting to happen  !!

No it isn't.

[Grumpy one]

If they can enlarge this with recycled plastic shopping bags, it will remove the need to collect Chinese tourists in buses.

Just load them in at Bangkok and head south towards their favourite vessel the         " Phoenix ".

One way or the other they will be swimming 

[metisdead]

A post using a trolling reference to the PM has been removed.

 

Some other troll posts have been removed. 

[Grumpy one]

On 10/2/2020 at 9:51 PM, Enoon said:

Seaplanes are divided into Floatplanes and Flying Boats.

 

Both may be classified as Amphibious.

 

Because the NAX-5 depends on a fuselage/hull for bouyancy it is an Amphibious Flying Boat.

 

This is an Amphibious Floatplane:

 

This is an Amphibious Flying Boat:

 

Floatplane:

 

Flying Boat:

 

All are Seaplanes.

 

 

Dead Duck  

[Don Mega]

Wonder what happened to the previous NAX planes built by the RTN ?

 

"PHUKET: Four Thailand made single-engine aircraft will soon land on the Chao Phraya River in downtown Bangkok as an offering to His Majesty the King if a Royal Thai Navy (RTN) plan is brought to fruition.

The navy team is hoping to present the experimental two-seat amphibians to the much-loved monarch who has been undergoing treatment in hospital.

Vice Admiral Sommai Prakarnsamut, who heads the naval hydroplane development project, disclosed that he looked up to His Majesty every time he ran into problems or felt discouraged.

 

“Now that we have successfully created these efficient hydroplanes, we really wish to present them to His Majesty,” Sommai said.

He said Thailand was awarded the right to conduct research on the aircraft in 2007 under a multinational effort. Other countries are engaged in the project for different sizes of hydroplanes.

“We started this research project with an initial budget of 500,000 baht,” he said. “It was progressing quite well until we found out that no pilot wanted to steer our prototype for test flights.”

 

In 2008, Sommai decided to take a pilot course himself, even though he was already 57 at that time. “I spent 500,000 baht from my own pocket on the course,” he said.

Sommai was the first pilot to conduct test flights for the project.

With his fierce determination, the project has finally taken off and has attracted three more willing pilots.

 

The Thailand Research Fund and the Defense Ministry have also allocated 12 million baht and 15 million baht, respectively, to the project.

“His Majesty’s self-reliance philosophy inspired me to join this project,” said Captain Kritchaphon Rianglekjamnong, another pilot involved in the endeavor.

His Majesty has encouraged the Navy to develop patrol boats and more equipment on its own instead of importing the supplies. “I’m so proud that this hydroplane has been completely invented by Thais,” Kritchaphon added.

The research team has named its invention, Naval Aircraft Experimental or ‘NAX’.

Each NAX hydroplane weighs 360kg, with the maximum test load of 600kg. It flies at a maximum speed of 90 knots and up to 10,000 feet above the ground. It can take off and land on either land or water.

The NAX 01 and the NAX 03 have already been flown with great efficiency.

On May 19, they will carry out their first mission to survey sea-transport spots for the Transport Ministry.

“These Thai made vehicles can be used for coastal patrols and rescue operations too,” Sommai said.

The construction of NAX 2 will be completed in less than two weeks, while NAX 4 will be ready to take off before the end of 2012.

Although the construction cost of each craft is now about 5 million baht, the cost will drop if more planes are manufactured.

“If we have adequate budget for research and development, we won’t have to spend a lot of money on importing boats and aircraft anymore. Please don’t think that Thais won’t be able to provide quality products,” Sommai said.

Kritchaphon said he had flown many types of aircraft, including those made by foreign countries. “I can tell you that this Thailand made hydroplane is second to none. It is even better in terms of durability, easy-to-use functions, and maintenance – and also lower in terms of production cost.”

 

NAX - 01

 

[Litlos]

1 hour ago, Don Mega said:

Wonder what happened to the previous NAX planes built by the RTN ?

 

"PHUKET: Four Thailand made single-engine aircraft will soon land on the Chao Phraya River in downtown Bangkok as an offering to His Majesty the King if a Royal Thai Navy (RTN) plan is brought to fruition.

The navy team is hoping to present the experimental two-seat amphibians to the much-loved monarch who has been undergoing treatment in hospital.

Vice Admiral Sommai Prakarnsamut, who heads the naval hydroplane development project, disclosed that he looked up to His Majesty every time he ran into problems or felt discouraged.

 

“Now that we have successfully created these efficient hydroplanes, we really wish to present them to His Majesty,” Sommai said.

He said Thailand was awarded the right to conduct research on the aircraft in 2007 under a multinational effort. Other countries are engaged in the project for different sizes of hydroplanes.

“We started this research project with an initial budget of 500,000 baht,” he said. “It was progressing quite well until we found out that no pilot wanted to steer our prototype for test flights.”

 

In 2008, Sommai decided to take a pilot course himself, even though he was already 57 at that time. “I spent 500,000 baht from my own pocket on the course,” he said.

Sommai was the first pilot to conduct test flights for the project.

With his fierce determination, the project has finally taken off and has attracted three more willing pilots.

 

The Thailand Research Fund and the Defense Ministry have also allocated 12 million baht and 15 million baht, respectively, to the project.

“His Majesty’s self-reliance philosophy inspired me to join this project,” said Captain Kritchaphon Rianglekjamnong, another pilot involved in the endeavor.

His Majesty has encouraged the Navy to develop patrol boats and more equipment on its own instead of importing the supplies. “I’m so proud that this hydroplane has been completely invented by Thais,” Kritchaphon added.

The research team has named its invention, Naval Aircraft Experimental or ‘NAX’.

Each NAX hydroplane weighs 360kg, with the maximum test load of 600kg. It flies at a maximum speed of 90 knots and up to 10,000 feet above the ground. It can take off and land on either land or water.

The NAX 01 and the NAX 03 have already been flown with great efficiency.

On May 19, they will carry out their first mission to survey sea-transport spots for the Transport Ministry.

“These Thai made vehicles can be used for coastal patrols and rescue operations too,” Sommai said.

The construction of NAX 2 will be completed in less than two weeks, while NAX 4 will be ready to take off before the end of 2012.

Although the construction cost of each craft is now about 5 million baht, the cost will drop if more planes are manufactured.

“If we have adequate budget for research and development, we won’t have to spend a lot of money on importing boats and aircraft anymore. Please don’t think that Thais won’t be able to provide quality products,” Sommai said.

Kritchaphon said he had flown many types of aircraft, including those made by foreign countries. “I can tell you that this Thailand made hydroplane is second to none. It is even better in terms of durability, easy-to-use functions, and maintenance – and also lower in terms of production cost.”

 

NAX - 01

 

Found it attempted a subsea landing, lol

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/navy-plane-crashes-sattahip-178511

 

Cheers

[elliss]

On 10/2/2020 at 4:40 PM, overt2016 said:

They are  not serious, are they?

Was it built from scratch or adapted from another plane?

If it was adapted it.s a load of <deleted>.

 Foreigner , farlangs . 

   Reqd , for its first flight , to the moon ..

    Sadly , no Monkies available ...

Thx covid 19 , panic ...

 

 

Edited October 4, 2020 by elliss

[micmichd]

10 hours ago, elliss said:

 Foreigner , farlangs . 

   Reqd , for its first flight , to the moon ..

    Sadly , no Monkies available ...

Thx covid 19 , panic ...

 

 

Guess it's okay for border patrol. 

We all started somewhere, didn't we? 

And Thailand still has the US Navy here to assist her.