03:32Chinese inventor Liu Xiangqiang, the man famous for developing a flying bicycle, has revealed the prototype for his latest airborne vehicle; a 'ground-effect' hover car could be launched into mass production for rescue operations and goods transportation over water.
Footage captured in Ganzhou on Thursday shows the inventor piloting his device along the surface of the water, and working on it with his team.
"The first time I lifted off the water was quite similar to the Wright brothers - just a brief lift-off before coming back down. It was incredibly thrilling, lasting about seven to eight seconds. Now, with a single charge, I can fly for approximately fifteen minutes. I can maintain altitude and cruise along the water surface," said Liu.
His latest vehicle which took four years to develop.
"It combines the features of both an airplane and a boat and typically operates on the water surface. Compared to an airplane, it can carry a heavier load and is more fuel-efficient because it uses ground effect to increase the lift of its wings," he explained. "Compared to a boat, its flight speed is much higher. For instance, a normal boat or cargo ship usually travels at around 30 knots, while my ground-effect vehicle can reach speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour. So, compared to an airplane, it has a greater load capacity, and compared to a boat, it is much faster," he continued.
Liu encouraged fellow inventors to act fast when they have a new idea.
"You need to act on your ideas as soon as you have them. You can't just keep thinking about them, because if you keep them in your mind for too long, you'll forget them," he noted.
The vehicle manages to 'fly' above the surface of the water using the ' 'ground effect' principle, an aerodynamic interaction between the wing of the car and the water.
Is it a boat, is it a plane? Chinese inventor develops innovative 'ground-effect' hover car
Chinese inventor Liu Xiangqiang, the man famous for developing a flying bicycle, has revealed the prototype for his latest airborne vehicle; a 'ground-effect' hover car could be launched into mass production for rescue operations and goods transportation over water.
Footage captured in Ganzhou on Thursday shows the inventor piloting his device along the surface of the water, and working on it with his team.
"The first time I lifted off the water was quite similar to the Wright brothers - just a brief lift-off before coming back down. It was incredibly thrilling, lasting about seven to eight seconds. Now, with a single charge, I can fly for approximately fifteen minutes. I can maintain altitude and cruise along the water surface," said Liu.
His latest vehicle which took four years to develop.
"It combines the features of both an airplane and a boat and typically operates on the water surface. Compared to an airplane, it can carry a heavier load and is more fuel-efficient because it uses ground effect to increase the lift of its wings," he explained. "Compared to a boat, its flight speed is much higher. For instance, a normal boat or cargo ship usually travels at around 30 knots, while my ground-effect vehicle can reach speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour. So, compared to an airplane, it has a greater load capacity, and compared to a boat, it is much faster," he continued.
Liu encouraged fellow inventors to act fast when they have a new idea.
"You need to act on your ideas as soon as you have them. You can't just keep thinking about them, because if you keep them in your mind for too long, you'll forget them," he noted.
The vehicle manages to 'fly' above the surface of the water using the ' 'ground effect' principle, an aerodynamic interaction between the wing of the car and the water.
Chinese inventor Liu Xiangqiang, the man famous for developing a flying bicycle, has revealed the prototype for his latest airborne vehicle; a 'ground-effect' hover car could be launched into mass production for rescue operations and goods transportation over water.
Footage captured in Ganzhou on Thursday shows the inventor piloting his device along the surface of the water, and working on it with his team.
"The first time I lifted off the water was quite similar to the Wright brothers - just a brief lift-off before coming back down. It was incredibly thrilling, lasting about seven to eight seconds. Now, with a single charge, I can fly for approximately fifteen minutes. I can maintain altitude and cruise along the water surface," said Liu.
His latest vehicle which took four years to develop.
"It combines the features of both an airplane and a boat and typically operates on the water surface. Compared to an airplane, it can carry a heavier load and is more fuel-efficient because it uses ground effect to increase the lift of its wings," he explained. "Compared to a boat, its flight speed is much higher. For instance, a normal boat or cargo ship usually travels at around 30 knots, while my ground-effect vehicle can reach speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour. So, compared to an airplane, it has a greater load capacity, and compared to a boat, it is much faster," he continued.
Liu encouraged fellow inventors to act fast when they have a new idea.
"You need to act on your ideas as soon as you have them. You can't just keep thinking about them, because if you keep them in your mind for too long, you'll forget them," he noted.
The vehicle manages to 'fly' above the surface of the water using the ' 'ground effect' principle, an aerodynamic interaction between the wing of the car and the water.