Warrior (Aero-Marine) Ltd., based in Hampshire, England, unveiled its six-place amphibious aircraft concept, the Centaur. James Labouchere, an award-winning marine and aviation designer, designed the Warrior and is using advanced marine technology that "rewrites the rulebook for amphibious aircraft design and fundamentally corrects 50 years of historical seaplane wrongs.

"Historical seaplane design has resulted in current aircraft generally having restrictive payload range, poor access to waterside facilities, poor wave handling and high sensitivity to salt water corrosion issues," Labouchere said.

Funded by an RAeS Handley Page Award and private money, a paper study began in 1992 followed in 1993 by hull trials and a flying 1/5 scale model. Computer software improved the design in 1994 and in 1995 a revised hull was created. A second scale model flew in 1995 and the first cockpit mockup was constructed in 1997. Testing and planning continues.

The Centaur uses composite construction and a slender hull inspired by recent similar hull designs for fast yachts and ferries. Labouchere claims the Centaur lower shock loading produces a comfortable ride in 80% rougher water than equivalent seaplanes.

The Centaur had folding wings that allows the amphibious aircraft to access most 12-meter boat handling facilities including commercial marinas. This opens up five times the number of facilities available to current seaplanes. To create precise slow speed handling on water, an 8.8-horsepower waterjet is located in the stern. With 360 degree vectoring, the Centaur can reverse, and taxi in or out accurately at speeds of only 6 knots.

Labouchere estimates there are 90,000 general aviation aircraft of which 6,800 are four- to six-seat seaplanes. He points to market studies he says show that 46,000 pilots are willing to pay more than $300,000 for new aircraft. Labouchere believes he can not only capture much of the replacement market for seaplanes but for land planes also.

"The only competitors we have are the de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver on floats. The Beaver has been in service for 50 years and is in short supply," he said. "Our design has a slightly larger cabin design and for a range of 400 miles it exceeds the Beaver's load capacity."

Compared to other seaplanes, Labouchere expects fuel burn to be as much as 60% less and total manhours on maintenance to be as much as 50% less. The Centaur has provisions for the Continental IO-550 and the Lycoming IO-540 with power between 280 bhp and 310 bhp.

Labouchere estimates Warrior needs $4 million to move from financing into construction and certification under JAR-23 rules. Approximately $25 million will be required to certify and deliver the first 10 aircraft. The first airplane can be delivered within four years after gaining financing.

Cost for a VFR Centaur would be between $500,000 and $575,000.

By John Wiley