22-2-2024 (SINGAPORE) ST Engineering AirX, a joint venture between ST Engineering and a Singapore-based start-up, has secured its inaugural order for a specialized watercraft that utilizes low-level flight aerodynamics to skim above the waves. The joint venture company recently signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Eurasia Mobility Solutions in Turkey at the Singapore Airshow on February 21. The LOI includes an order for up to 10 AirFish Wing-in-Ground (WIG) craft, with an option for an additional 10 units.
The financial details of the order were not disclosed.
ST Engineering AirX, responsible for manufacturing the AirFish family of WIG craft, will customize and deliver the AirFish 8, a 10-seat watercraft, to Eurasia Mobility Solutions starting from 2025. The purpose of these craft will be to cater to Turkey’s tourism and private transportation sectors.
Kubilay Ilgin, the founder of Eurasia Mobility Solutions, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are happy to introduce an innovative transportation model using a brand-new technology to Turkey, a country surrounded by the sea on three sides. As an alternative mode of transportation, AirFish 8 offers a safe, sustainable, and faster solution to conveniently reach places without any port or runway. Faster than existing air and marine travel options, this new technology will change the rules of marine transportation and create new trends in Turkey.”
Jeffrey Lam, President of Commercial Aerospace at ST Engineering, also celebrated the milestone, emphasizing the company’s commitment to developing innovative and sustainable solutions that connect people and goods along coastal areas. Lam stated, “This is a significant milestone for ST Engineering’s commercial aerospace business as we scale up our engineering and original manufacturing capabilities to develop more innovative and sustainable solutions that connect people and goods along some of the earth’s vast coastal areas.”
The AirFish family of WIG craft operates based on the principle of ground effect, which allows them to skim just above the surface of the water. Ground effect refers to the positive influence on an aircraft’s lifting characteristics when it is in close proximity to the ground. This effect occurs because the air beneath the wing is compressed by the ground, resulting in increased lift. Large birds such as the albatross utilize a similar principle of flight to conserve energy while airborne.
Leon Tan, the General Manager of ST Engineering AirX, explained that WIG craft operate just above the waves, providing an advantage by not requiring additional energy from engines to overcome hydrodynamic drag, a force that opposes the motion of boats and ships. Tan stated, “By operating just above the waves, WIG craft also have the added advantage of not needing extra energy from its engines, which is required by seagoing vessels to overcome hydrodynamic drag.”
The AirFish 8, ordered by Eurasia Mobility Solutions, measures 17 meters in length and 15 meters in width. It is designed to be operated by a two-person crew and can accommodate six to eight passengers. Powered by an eight-cylinder automotive engine running on 95-octane unleaded petrol, the AirFish 8 can reach speeds of 90 knots (167 km/h) and travel distances of up to 300 nautical miles (555 km), making it significantly faster than typical seagoing fast ferries that tend to travel at 30 knots.
One advantage of the AirFish family of WIG craft is that they can take off and land on water, eliminating the need for airport infrastructure like runways and enabling loading and unloading of passengers on beaches when piers are unavailable. The AirFish 8 is designed and built to adhere to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) guidelines. ST Engineering AirX’s next step is to obtain Type A WIG certification in accordance with IMO classification, which allows the craft to operate solely in ground effect.
Singapore has been associated with the AirFish WIG craft since 2004 when Wigetworks acquired all patents, intellectual property rights, and know-how for the design and production of the AirFish craft from Germany’s Airfoil Development GmbH. Wigetworks also obtained the license and exclusive rights to market and distribute AirFish technology worldwide.
The first AirFish 8 conducted its initial test flight in October 2016 and has since undergone extensive testing outside of Singapore. ST Engineering’s commercial aerospace business established ST Engineering AirX in 2023 in collaboration with Peluca (formerly Wigetworks) to harness the potential of WIG technology and commercialize the AirFish family.
Looking ahead, Mr. Tan envisions various applications for the AirFish WIG craft, including potential cargo versions and scaled-up craft for search and rescue operations, as well as military applications. He stated, “The goal of ST Engineering AirX is not just to get the AirFish flying safely but also to be disruptive in the maritime travel industry.”
