Boeing goes boating...

[playdeep]

Never seen this...kinda crazy.

 

[Rajobigguy]

Never seen this...kinda crazy. View attachment 980985

redefines "jet boat".

 

[Waterjunky]

That.....could be an exciting ride..........

 

[Dkahnjob]

I wonder if it is pure jet powered or has a shaft and V-Drive?

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Looks like an early unlimited hydroplane.

 

[Taboma]

Here's a great article on it and a few others by Boeing. The more in depth info on the jet hydro, keep scrolling down the page.

BOEING AQUAJET HYDROPLANE AND HYDROFOIL DEVELOPMENT US NAVAL HISTORY

Boeing hydroplanes and hydrofoil boat development for the US Navy AquaJet, Bluebird K7 and Donald Campbell versus Slo Mo Shun and Miss Bardahl.

www.bluebird-electric.net

 

[CLdrinker]

Thought I was going to see a plane had crashed as well as my stock

 

[LuauLounge]

Full info

BOEING AQUAJET HYDROPLANE AND HYDROFOIL DEVELOPMENT US NAVAL HISTORY

Boeing hydroplanes and hydrofoil boat development for the US Navy AquaJet, Bluebird K7 and Donald Campbell versus Slo Mo Shun and Miss Bardahl.

www.bluebird-electric.net

 

[monkeyswrench]

The S.S. Hold My Beer

Looks like fun!

 

[rrrr]

That's a 1950s centrifugal type turbojet, based on a design invented around 1939 by an English engineer named Frank Whittle, which was during the same time frame that German engineer Anselm Franz invented the axial turbojet that powered the Messerschmitt ME-262.

The engine's centrifugal compressor was similar to the ProCharger compressor, and the compressed air was routed to individual burner cans where fuel was introduced. The then greatly expanded burning fuel and compressed air mixture powered a turbine wheel in the round section aft of the burner cans, which drove the centrifugal compressor at the front of the engine. The hot gases were then discharged at the rear of the engine, producing thrust. You can pretty much follow how it works by looking at the photo.

A Whittle engine and the accompanying technical documents were given to the US Army in 1940, and the Army contracted with General Electric to refine and build an American version of the engine. That engine powered the first American prototype jet fighter, the 1942 Bell XP-89 Airacomet, and subsequent designs were improved into the 1950s.

The centrifugal jet engine powered the first generation of American jet powered military aircraft, but as the axial jet engine design was simpler, more powerful, and reliable, it became the design of choice during the 1950s. The axial design has evolved into today's high bypass turbofans, the largest being the 115,000 lb thrust General Electric GE90-115B.

The fan on the GE90-115B is about the same diameter as the fuselage of a Boeing 737.

 

[Ragged Edge]

Looks like an early unlimited hydroplane.

Here are a couple of examples of early unlimited hydroplanes. There are even earlier examples that are mono hulls, back when they were called gold cup boats. The cabover design (driver in front of the engine) did not become popular until the mid 1970's.