Dornier's New SeaStar Inline Twin Turboprop Seaplane

[GreatWhite85]

No thanks, I'll take a turbo Mallard any day of the week.

[tsns1]

Nice comeback

[KJOSCOT]

I suppose I will stick to the G-21G, or Albatross for a few million dollars less. Not worth it.

[youngfart40]

this thing is not pressurized ....lame..

[InfiniteMushroom]

Classic supply-side failure. Sink millions into an aircraft and pray for a few sales to global plutocrats. How many thousands of serfs will get laid off for each SeaStar?

A little Demand-Side sanity would yield up a much more affordable mass production aircraft that could have much larger production runs

As I mentioned previously, a VFR four-seater with tandem Lyc IO-360's should be the starting platform. Not this shameless appeal to Saudi princes and globalist tycoons living on private islands!

[RippR101]

@rustyATV,

Wow... I had no Idea it was like that. Well I guess that the Albatross is gonna get an upgrade to turbo-props.

[RippR101]

I know where there is a Grumman Albatross that has been completely restored and meticulously maintained for 1million and another one for 1.5 million that has a custom interior for 14 in luxury. I just can't justify spending 6 mil for a plane that requires specialty fuel when the Albatross runs on pump gas. Think about where you want to go and the resources available to you once you are there. You just might get there and find out they got no juice to get home on.

[rustyATV]

@RippR101 Actually, it's said that jet fuel is more common than AvGas, and in some markets it's AvGas that's not available. There is research going on into making spark ignition engines run on "heavy fuels" such as Jet A and JP4. Largest interested party is the military, of course, as they wold love to be able to run everything they operate on one fuel (JP4 I think) for logistical purposes.

[youngfart40]

Actually this concept has been around for at least 20 years. I remember dornier themselves were going to make on of these at least 20 years ago. It finally looks like its going to happen.

[nexusutube]

First test flight was in 1985. So 25 years until first sale.

[nipponhouseplayer]

The bottom side of the world is all water I think this would do the job!

[mjd4277]

Very impressive aircraft. I'd considering it an alternative to a Canadair CL-415 or a Consolidated PBY Catalina. And you can get a center-line thrust rating,a la Cessna 337 Skymaster. No Twin Otter or Cessna Caravan offers that! $6 million might seems a little steep but it's a twin engine turboprop,and lately turboprops have been making a comeback when the price of jet fuel went up.

[hodgejr]

I saw it up close earlier this year as it stopped at FLL.  It's very impressive...but $6M??? Insane, you can buy either a Twin Otter or Caravan on floats for a fraction of that, I can't see what advantage it offers over either. Good luck to them, would be nice to see such an interesting bird in the skies.

[LateNightCable]

I expected the plane to be over a million, but six, holy Moses. now if I were a multi-millionaire at this time, I would order one for my own private use in a heartbeat, because the Seastar is the coolest thing. But it would be nice to see a smaller, less expensive model. The group adventure possibilities are endless, and judging by the video, the range is quite long.

I had wondered if there were any real seaplanes built anymore, and here it is! One more thing to reach for.

[savagecub]

When you run the numbers on this airplane you will find that with full fuel you have about enough useful load for ONE PERSON !!!! PRETTY USELESS !!!!

[MagicTimeVideos]

gee, would have been nice to see more of the airplane instead of the talking heads - you made exciting news boring

[InfiniteMushroom]

The concept looks awesome but Dornier needs to consider markets other than government and giant corporations. Perhaps a smaller version featuring tandem Lycoming IO-540's could be offered for buyers who don't have the deep pockets of government or transnational corporations.

A bare bones four-passenger version with tandem Lycoming IO-360's would be popular in Canada and Alaska. Those DHC2 Beavers are over 50 years old and won't last forever!

[milezerohypno]

its such a pretty airplane too! I agree, I would love to see a smaller one for the private market.

[LethalHobo]

@InfiniteMushroom you articulated my thoughts exactly. A centrelined twin 540 baby Seastar would be great...

[angelica14709]

Incompete video lets see it take off from the water. A view of both engines and the rest of the plane 6 million dollars, show us more. Looks like updated old Dornier engine configuration, neat.

Don Kaake Glenn Curtiss fan.