A standard Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 requires 2.5 to 3 tons of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) to fly from Kolkata to Chennai, with the current cost of ATF being approximately Rs 95,000 per kiloliter.
New Delhi: A journey from Kolkata to Chennai in just three hours for only Rs 600 may seem like a fantasy, but it could soon turn into reality. Waterfly Technologies, a startup backed by IIT Madras’ incubation cell, has made this remarkable claim. Anand Mahindra, the Chairman of Mahindra Group and an entrepreneur who is popularly known for his engaging and witty presence on social media, is seemed to be highly impressed by this claim. He even remarked that IIT Madras appears to be challenging Silicon Valley when it comes to promoting startups!
Anand Mahindra posted on social media platform X, saying, “Almost every week, there’s news of a new ‘tech venture.’ What I particularly liked about this one is not just the promise of utilizing our vast waterways but also the fact that the design of this vehicle is absolutely stunning!”
To recall, Harsh Rajesh the company’s co-founder, had revealed that they plan to use electric seagliders to make this journey both faster and more affordable. These will be Wing-in-Ground (WIG) crafts that will take off from water and fly at an altitude of four meters. According to a report in The New Indian Express, he stated, “The 1,600 km journey from Kolkata to Chennai will be completed for just ₹600 per seat, which is even cheaper than an AC three-tier train ticket.”
How will this miracle be possible?
Explaining the scientific reasoning behind this unique concept, Keshav Choudhary, another co-founder of this startup, said that this special aircraft will fly very close to the water’s surface, utilizing the ground effect. This will reduce friction on the aircraft’s wings and increase lift due to air cushioning, allowing it to fly even at lower speeds.
For example, a standard Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 requires 2.5 to 3 tons of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) to fly from Kolkata to Chennai, with the current cost of ATF being approximately Rs 95,000 per kiloliter. However, Waterfly’s seaglider can significantly reduce this cost, making ticket prices much more affordable.
Cheaper to Build, Easier to Maintain
Keshav Choudhary further mentioned that the cost of his design would be significantly lower than that of a conventional airplane. He explained, “Since we do not fly at high altitudes, we do not need to withstand low air pressure, which means our aircraft does not have to be built as strong. This significantly reduces construction costs.”
Additionally, the engine of this aircraft would not need to be as powerful as those in traditional airplanes. “An airplane has to take off before the runway ends, but we have the entire ocean at our disposal. For us, the runway is infinite. This reduces the pressure on the engine.”
