From epic canyon catapults to personal jetpacks to Lamborghini’s Aventador SVJ, it seems man is locked in a neverending race to find new ways to threaten our own lives for a cheap thrill. While flying a traditional seaplane hardly seems exhilarating enough to get most adrenaline junkies out of bed, the new FlyNano is no ordinary seaplane. The best part? You don’t even need a pilot’s license to fly it.
Darwin might disagree, but FlyNano is all-in with the idea that “man was born to fly.” Finnish builder Fly Nano Ltd. recently announced the debut of the FlyNano, a purpose-built, one-man, all-electric seaplane designed to be operated by anyone. Equal parts go-kart and Jet Ski, it’s unlike any personal aircraft available today.
The streamlined, cherry-red body is not only handsome but built for speed. At just 70 kilograms (150 pounds), the handmade carbon composite body is surprisingly lightweight. Coupled with a max power output of 32 kilowatts, the FlyNano promises the highest power-to-weight ratio of any all-electric ultralight on the market today. It’s capable of pushing a 100-kg (220-pound) pilot up to 120 kph (75 mph) with around 15 minutes of flying time on a single charge. If that seems way too short, know that the battery is hot-swappable and fast-charges in just one hour. The brushless, eco-friendly motor is emission- and maintenance-free. It’s also 100 percent silent, so it’s the perfect stealth aircraft for those midnight neighborhood bombing runs you’ve been scheming.
Fully assembled, it stretches 3.8 meters (12 feet) from propeller to tail and 4.8 meters (16 feet) wingtip to wingtip. However, that sizable footprint packs down small for easy transport. The three-piece design can be assembled and disassembled by two people in just 15 minutes. The company even offers a custom FlyNano Dock for stowing the aircraft at the shore or your local marina.
Due to its lack of landing gear, FlyNano is a seaplane specifically designed to be operated over and landed in water. However, that’s about the only restriction to flying the aircraft. Technically, piloting it requires no special license. Although, even the manufacturer warns, “It goes without saying, that a gross mishandling will, of course, lead to non-wanted, even dangerous results.” Fortunately, they offer would-be pilots access to the FlyNano Academy to hone their piloting skills.
The FlyNano is available now for under $100,000 (aviator goggles and bomber jacket not included).
