The United States is working on a concept for a large seaplane. The research study was reported to DARPA. The concept entails the creation of an aircraft to enable enhanced operational capabilities, cost-effective production, and use of advanced aircraft control.

DARPA launched a project called Liberty Lifter to demonstrate the leap in operational logistics capabilities by designing, building and testing low-cost aircraft capable of strategic maritime strategic and tactical transport.

DARPA’s new vehicle concept aims to enhance the capabilities of existing cargo aircraft by proving revolutionary flight capabilities within range of the aerodynamic display. Future aircraft will provide rapid strategic transport of very large and heavy cargo with the possibility of take-off / landing on water.

The aircraft’s construction will allow both high controlled flight near turbulent water surfaces and long flight at medium altitudes. In addition, the aircraft will be built with inexpensive design and construction.

“This first phase of the Liberty Lifter program will determine the range, payload and other parameters of the unique seaplane,” said Alexander Valan. [Alexander Walan], program manager at the DARPA Office of Tactical Technology. “The innovative achievements of this new DARPA program will be demonstrated by the X-plane demonstrator, which will provide the military with new capabilities during extended naval operations.”

The Liberty Lifter program focuses on addressing three major shortcomings of current aircraft.

Advanced maritime operations: In order to reduce the load on the structure during take-off / landing, high lifting power will be created at low speeds, and working in turbulent sea conditions will be emphasized. The future vehicle should operate at sea for weeks without ground maintenance.

Full scale production available: In construction, the priority will be cheap, easy-to-manufacture structures. Materials should be more affordable than traditional aircraft manufacturing and can be purchased in large quantities.

Comprehensive flight controls: Advanced sensors and control schemes will be designed to avoid big waves and deal with aero/hydrodynamic interactions during takeoff/landing. Source