Prospective Concepts Stingray

The media talked about a "flying stingray" when Prospective Concepts AG finally unveiled its secretive technology demonstrator in May 1998. Stingray is designed by this Swiss company, with a wing that derives its rigidity from compressed air. Later versions will be filled with helium. The second radical concept developed especially for the Stingray is a pneumatic catapult to be placed in the aicraft's tail. The concept has been tested on the "Kangarou," a light airplane with slow flight characteristics similar to the Stingray's: a cylinder that extends to 5 meters catapults the craft right into the air and accelerates it from standstill to flying speed at 1.5 g.

According to the company, a significantly larger successor to the Stingray is also planned. It will derive 25 percent of its lift from helium in its wing and integrate propulsion and the gondola into the wing. Development of the Stingray was supported by the German pneumatic conglomerate Festo.

Stingray
Wingspan: 13 m
Length overall: 9.4 m
Wing surface: 70 sq.m
Volume: 68 cu.m
Max. speed: 130 km/h (85 mph)