The Shearwater Amphibian Newsletter

May 2007

A new beginning for a wonderful plane.
I am pleased to announce that a new company, Shearwater Aircraft Limited, was formed in January this year and that the Shearwater project is underway again.

The aerodynamic design for this exciting plane is now complete and it is a beauty. A simple, attractive and sleek airplane, the Shearwater has performance and features that are outstanding. This is an amphibian that performs like a very good land plane.
Cruise           207 mph
Useful Load   1,500 lbs
The spacious cabin is 53 inches wide in both the front and the back, giving plenty of space and comfort for everyone. Generous storage space.

On the water the advanced hydroski solves many seaplane problems. For example, no more “getting on the step” issues. As you accelerate the ski rapidly lifts the plane. Even at maximum weight, by 20 mph the hull is clear of the water and the acceleration is excellent. There is almost no friction as there is virtually no wake and no spray.

In the air it will be a pleasure to fly. The flight controls are push rods to give a light and positive feel with good feedback. The low thrust line means no pitch changes with power changes, and the V tail provides full rudder authority even at low speed and low power.

The engine of choice is the Innodyn turbine. It is light and small compared with a conventional engine, thus payload increases and drag reduces. The improvement is dramatic, being over 300lbs of payload and 25 kts of speed. It can burn jet fuel, diesel or any mixture of them. Easy to maintain, it has a huge time between overhauls and the security of turbine reliability. For the pilot it brings a simple single lever control and a fast power response.

Please note: This engine is no longer being considered as Innodyn cannot supply any engines.

The Shearwater has been designed to meet all FAR23/JAR23 rules.
All materials are salt water tolerant to the greatest extent practical.
The Shearwater is a fast, roomy, safe, strong, plane that can go anywhere.

History

The early prototype Shearwater demonstrated just how much demand there was for a roomy amphibian that had excellent handling characteristics. Some of you will have seen that plane at Oshkosh in 2005. Unfortunately it had too much drag to put into production. A completely new design has been embarked upon with remarkable results. The extra time taken to get to this stage is a small price to pay for such an exceptional result. A brilliant designer and brilliant software, have combined to produce an all round general aviation airplane that is also a brilliant amphibian.

Performance

The suite of software that we are using gives us a high level of confidence in the design predictions. Nevertheless, all the performance predictions are conservatively stated and will be the minimum that the Shearwater will achieve. The sophisticated software that we are using includes Catia, Rhino, AutoShip, AutoHydro, Ansys, Xfoil, 3D Aero - XFLR5, MSES, XFAP, AVL, VLAero, Open Foam and a few others.
The Shearwater can carry a 1,000 lb payload 800 miles in only four hours, with a 30 minute reserve. Maximum range is 1,500 miles with a 30 minute reserve, using standard fuel tanks.

The Kit

The detailed design work will be finished by June 2007. Mould production, prototype construction and test flying will take us into 2008.

Kit production will follow when we are completely satisfied that the Shearwater meets all our performance and quality standards. Our first customers can expect to receive the first part of their kit in the second half of 2008.

The Shearwater will only be available as a fast finish kit and an experienced builder can expect to finish it in less than 1,000 hours.

The price is US$99,500. The deposit is US$10,000. Engine, propeller, avionics, interior, paint etc are not included.

Dimensions

Wing Span 36' 01" Maximum Weight 3,307lb
Wing Area 141.5ft2 Length 30' 04"

Best Regards
Steve Hoyle
Managing Director