Flyer F18: Ahead of its time??

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What happened to this design? Checking some design pics on my pc I found this of the german Flyer F18, pretty actual design, looking backwards now:
Modern look Wave piercer , High aspect ratio rudders and daggers
a nice set of Landys…
Ahead of its time for sure, an earlier exponent of the wave piercing concept on the F18 class with elevated rear beam and encapsulated frot one.
Andrew Landenberger used this boat at 2004 Worlds, he was 5th. That year was the Capricorn debut also and Greg finished 6th behind the Flyer, but both designs followed a different path.
After some research it seems that the Flyer lacked overall volume, all other features were right on the spot, you can take that design now just add the right volume, Infusion style, and you’ll have a winner.
I´d like to see a new Flyer F18, their A-Class have evolved with more volume, the Ashby Flyer and the last Flyer S are good examples…

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4 Responses

  1. Anonymous says:
    August 21, 2009 at 11:36 am

    really interresting post…nice anlysis….must be Worlds 2004 though! Landy told me once that both the Flyer F18 & the Bimare X4 had the same problem…not enough volume to be allround and a therefore not a real winner in the long run.

    /T

  2. Editor says:
    August 21, 2009 at 11:42 am

    Hey! I was still editing this post! you´r fast. Yes 2004, thanks, already changed it.

    Yep, I'm 100% for volume, this boat was perfect just for that, if they´ve had more volume, the Flyer would be racing right now one o one against the new designs.

  3. Anonymous says:
    August 23, 2009 at 9:15 am

    Its designer, Peter Egner is always ahead of its time

    Remember the wave piercer FlyerMk 1
    A class is designed in 1996 ! far ahead of al other 'wave piercers'

    I remember the scepsis around the boat park when his brother , Robert showed up with is 'upside'at the europeans A class 1997 in Austria….

    The Flyer changed catameran design completely

  4. Tim says:
    August 24, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    The Landenberger Flyer was sold to the German Cat Club of Flensburg, where it is still sailed, but I have no idea, where the first prototype (to heavy) went.
    The boat is still participating at the German F18 regattas. It's a bitch to sail. Not enough rocker, to little volume, to low, building quality is poor. You will find pictures of it on our homepage: http://www.ccff.de