Seaplanes are nothing new, having been one of the
most popular forms of aircrafts in the first half of the 20th century. The MVP Aero Model 3, however, is no
ordinary seaplane. On the water, it can
literally transform into a recreational boat that’s equipped for fishing,
exploration, and even docking on the local marina.
Described as “the world’s most versatile plane,” the
light sport aircraft isn’t just designed to use the water as a runway. Instead, it’s meant to function there,
whether you’re soaking in the sights along a picturesque river, taking a cruise
around the bay, or docking on a small island to search for hidden pirate
treasures.
To transform the MVP Aero Model 3 into a boat, it
features a facility that raises the entire two-person cockpit (including the
instrument panel, if you’re not navigating), giving you an open deck for
fishing and other water activities. It’s
also designed to support your Disco Hammock between the cabin and the tail, so
the girlfriend can get some snooze while you spend the afternoon reeling in
some fish dinner. While the wings
remain spread out in boat mode, it can be folded inward (manually, though),
making it possible to squeeze into smaller-sized yacht docks at the marina.
Not only can it land on water, take off on water,
and ride around the ocean like a regular boat, it can do the same on land,
too. That way, once you tire of the
water, you can just take off and land at a patch of mountain land. Key details include a useful load of 450
pounds, maximum cruising speed of 104 knots (sea level), and carbon/glass
composite airframe construction.
The first prototype of the MVP Aero Model 3 is
expected to be finished in 18 months, with commercial production scheduled to
commence in three years.
