Security ... think about it!
Like Behel, I’m here at the Coast Guard pier in Monterey for flight school—a training course for prospective Super Falcon pilots. Behel has a bit more flight experience than me, however: He used to fly F-4 Phantom jet fighters for the military. It’s not surprising that he was drawn to the Super Falcon, since the two craft share many of the same design principles. Long and thin, with a tapered nose, the Super Falcon has rear horizontal stabilizers, two large tail rudders and dual acrylic cockpit canopies. It also has inverted wings, which turn the aeronautic concept of lift upside down, allowing the sub to literally fly through the water. Whereas conventional subs rely on ballast, the Super Falcon descends as forward speed creates a pressure differential between the top and bottom of the wings. Free of ballast, the sub is positively buoyant, which dramatically increases safety. Lose power and the vessel automatically floats to the surface.
