Burt Rutan's Model 375 SkiGull Amphibian

[Silencer1]

Beautiful amphibian!

The most intriguing things for me are the main undercarriage with small wheels and shape of hull bow.
I would like to knew your' opinion

P.S. It's curious to compare this type with Icon A-5 flying boat.

 

[Stargazer]

Burt Rutan has been busy: he put SkiGull in the water several weeks back.

I may be wrong here, but your post gives me the impression that you're not aware the aircraft already has flown. If it's true, then check the photos and links two posts before yours...

The most intriguing things for me are the main undercarriage with small wheels and shape of hull bow.
I would like to knew your' opinion

Not really any room for opinion here, since the device is reasonably well documented. Rutan wanted the aircraft to be "able to handle rough water, ocean swells, beaching on ocean coasts and operating from snowfields". To that effect the SkiGull has a "retractable ski undercarriage that can have wheels attached for water, snow or land operations". Simple as that. The wheels can be removed or fitted at will depending on where you plan to go.

P.S. It's curious to compare this type with Icon A-5 flying boat.

Interestingly, the Icon A5 was developed by former Scaled employees...

 

[VTOLicious]

Neat, Burt Rutan (still) rules ...two three observations:

1) The dorsal fin is non existing in the CAD drawings
2) The empennage seems to have a all flying tail with a counter weight in front of the stabilizers leading edge (Also not shown in CAD).
Edit: 3) The tail skid is also not shown in the CAD drawings

BR Michael

 

[Stargazer]

Neat, Burt Rutan (still) rules ...two observations:
1) The dorsal fin is non existing in the CAD drawings
2) The empennage seems to have a all flying tail with a counter weight in front of the stabilizers leading edge (Also not shown in CAD).

Thanks for lending your sharp eye and for these interesting observations, Michael!

 

[VTOLicious]

...4) There is also no winglets and "taillets" in CAD

 

[VTOLicious]

Looking Up, Way Up! The Burt Rutan Story

http://lookingupwayup.com/

 

[hesham]

Maybe a three engined version ?.

 

[VTOLicious]

Maybe a three engined version ?.

Interesting, what is the source?

 

[VTOLicious]

News 02-1-2016:

http://lookingupwayup.com/2016/02/01/skigull-first-flight/

“If I stop, all I’ve got is just another seaplane. I don’t have something that’s a research breakthrough. And that’s what I’m after. I’m seriously after something that we’ll look back and say, ‘what this airplane is and is able to do, in terms of operating in beaches, rough water, and have the kind of capabilities that it has, is not just something a little better than the best floatplane, but something that is really truly breakthrough in nature.’”

 

[hesham]

Maybe a three engined version ?.

Interesting, what is the source?

Hi VTOL,

from a magazine,but i don't remember it now,I will search about it for you.

 

[TomS]

Can't find the picture, but this AOPA article refers to the design having "a pair of electric motors with reversible propellers to simplify docking and provide a power boost (if desired) at takeoff." Those motors don't seem to be present in the current model but it seems to be the long-term plan.

http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2015/July/22/SkiGull-Details-Revealed

 

[VTOLicious]

Any news?

 

[VTOLicious]

News 02-1-2016:

http://lookingupwayup.com/2016/02/01/skigull-first-flight/

“If I stop, all I’ve got is just another seaplane. I don’t have something that’s a research breakthrough. And that’s what I’m after. I’m seriously after something that we’ll look back and say, ‘what this airplane is and is able to do, in terms of operating in beaches, rough water, and have the kind of capabilities that it has, is not just something a little better than the best floatplane, but something that is really truly breakthrough in nature.’”

There has been no news on this page for three years

https://lookingupwayup.com/category/news/

 

[Sundog]

I think he's very much retired now. As for the Ski Gull, I think it's been permanently grounded due to "technical difficulties."

 

[sienar]

News 02-1-2016:

http://lookingupwayup.com/2016/02/01/skigull-first-flight/

“If I stop, all I’ve got is just another seaplane. I don’t have something that’s a research breakthrough. And that’s what I’m after. I’m seriously after something that we’ll look back and say, ‘what this airplane is and is able to do, in terms of operating in beaches, rough water, and have the kind of capabilities that it has, is not just something a little better than the best floatplane, but something that is really truly breakthrough in nature.’”

There has been no news on this page for three years

https://lookingupwayup.com/category/news/

They were remaking the hull in late 2018/19;

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXlnVuIDgXw