All language subtitles for Mega Machines-Worlds Strangest Ship

Narrator: THIS
REVOLUTIONARY SEA CRAFT...

WE ARE TRAVELING ABOUT CLOSE
TO 90 MILES PER HOUR.

...IS TURNING SCIENCE FICTION
INTO SCIENCE FACT.

WE ARE PUTTING A LOT OF EFFORT
TO REFINE THE TECHNOLOGY.

Narrator: BLURRING THE LINES

BETWEEN SPEEDBOAT
AND AIRPLANE...

YES! AIRBORNE.

...THIS MACHINE FLIES

ON A CUSHION OF AIR

JUST FEET ABOVE THE WAVES.

SPEED INCREASING
75 KNOT.

CAN THIS PIONEERING PROTOTYPE
SOAR INTO THE MAINSTREAM?

THE APPROACH ANGLE
IS PRETTY SHARP.

♪♪

YES!

♪♪

BREAKING THIS
EXTRAORDINARY MACHINE

DOWN INTO ITS COMPONENTS,

WE'LL UNCOVER
ITS TECHNOLOGICAL SECRETS.

FROM ITS SLEEK, LIGHT HULL,

STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND

THE BATTERING OF THE WAVES,

TO ITS UNIQUE WINGS THAT

CREATE HIGH-PRESSURE
POCKETS OF AIR...

♪♪

...WE'LL REVEAL HOW THIS
RADICAL FLYING SHIP EVOLVED

TO BECOME A MEGA MACHINE.

♪♪

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

♪♪

MALAYSIA, SOUTHEAST ASIA.

THIS VIBRANT, BUSTLING COUNTRY
OF 31 MILLION PEOPLE

ENCOMPASSES HUNDREDS
OF TROPICAL ISLANDS.

COASTAL TOWNS HERE ARE BOOMING.

BUT THE CONGESTED ROAD NETWORKS

ARE STRUGGLING
TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWTH.

MARINE ENGINEER AND BUSINESSMAN

KENNETH TAN
KNOWS THE PROBLEM WELL.

Tan: ROAD NETWORKS
ALONG COASTAL REGION --

THEY ARE USUALLY VERY BUSY

AND IT CAN CAUSE
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DELAYS.

Narrator: THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES
TO AVOID THE BUSY COASTAL ROADS,

BUT THEY COME WITH PROBLEMS.

Tan: BY BOATS,
YOU TAKE A LONG TIME.

BY HELICOPTERS,
IT'LL BE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS,

LET'S GO FOR IT.

Narrator: FROM HIS BASE AT THE
INTERNATIONAL PORT OF MALACCA,

93 MILES SOUTH
OF KUALA LUMPUR,

KENNETH IS DEVELOPING
AN INGENIOUS SOLUTION THAT

COULD CHANGE TRANSPORTATION
ACROSS THE GLOBE --

♪♪

A SHIP...

THAT CAN FLY.

THIS MACHINE IS STRAIGHT
OUT OF SCIENCE FICTION.

REMARKABLY FAST,
BUT INCREDIBLY EFFICIENT,

THIS SLEEK PROTOTYPE IS THE
FINAL RESULT OF 13 YEARS' WORK

AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS OF DEVELOPMENT.

KENNETH CALLS HIS FLYING SHIP
THE AIRFISH 8.

IT'S A MODERN TAKE
ON A 20th CENTURY TECHNOLOGY

THAT HARNESSES
A QUIRK OF PHYSICS

CALLED GROUND EFFECT --

MACHINES THAT CREATE
A CUSHION OF AIR

AND GLIDE OVER WATER.

OVER THE YEARS,
ENGINEERS AROUND THE WORLD

ATTEMPTED TO PERFECT
THE TECHNOLOGY,

BUT THE TRUE MASTERS
OF GROUND EFFECT

WERE THE SOVIETS.

THEY BUILT HUGE
PROTOTYPE MILITARY CRAFT

BIGGER THAN JUMBO JETS.

ONE COULD EVEN LAUNCH
NUCLEAR MISSILES.

ANOTHER CARRIED TROOPS
UNDER THE RADAR

AT MORE THAN 300 MILES AN HOUR.

♪♪

U.S. SPIES CALLED IT
THE CASPIAN SEA MONSTER,

BUT ITS SIZE MADE IT UNWIELDY.

THE MONSTER CRASHED AND SANK
DURING TESTING IN THE 1980s

AND THE SOVIETS ABANDONED
THE TECHNOLOGY.

MANY HAVE TRIED AND FAILED
TO FULFILL

THE POTENTIAL
OF GROUND EFFECT

FOR THE MASS MARKET.

BUT KENNETH HAS
NO INTENTION OF FAILING.

IT'S A RADICAL MACHINE CRAMMED
WITH HIGH-TECH MATERIALS.

TWO COMPOSITE WINGS
DEVELOP A CUSHION OF AIR

TO SUPPORT THE SHIP
DURING FLIGHT.

A CARBON-FIBER REINFORCED FRAME
MAKES IT INCREDIBLY LIGHTWEIGHT.

AT ITS HEART,

AN 8-CYLINDER ENGINE
DELIVERS MORE POWER

THAN A FORD MUSTANG GT.

TWO CUSTOM PROPELLERS SPIN
AT MORE THAN 1,000 RPM,

AND A GIGANTIC,
33-FOOT-LONG TAIL

KEEPS THE FLYING SHIP STABLE

AT OVER 120 MILES PER HOUR.

♪♪

TOGETHER, THESE PARTS
MAKE THE AIRFISH

A TRUE MASTER OF THE OCEAN.

♪♪

THE FLYING SHIP NOW NEEDS
THE RIGHT BUYERS,

AND TODAY, KENNETH HOPES
TO SECURE THE FIRST ORDER

FROM THE BOOMING
LOCAL TOURIST INDUSTRY.

THE HOTEL EXECUTIVES
ARE ON THEIR WAY

FROM THE LEXIS HIBISCUS
PORT DICKSON,

40 MILES TO THE NORTH.

♪♪

THIS IS A HOTEL
WITH 522 LUXURY VILLAS

BUILT RIGHT OVER THE WATER.

KENNETH WANTS TO CONVINCE THEM

THAT A PRIVATE CLIENT SHUTTLE
FROM MALACCA

WOULD BYPASS
CONGESTED HIGHWAY TRAFFIC

AND GIVE THEIR HOTEL AN EDGE
OVER THE COMPETITION.

♪♪

BUT HE FIRST NEEDS
TO RUN A TEST FLIGHT.

HE CAN'T AFFORD
FOR ANYTHING TO GO WRONG.

EVERY TIME WHEN WE HAVE
POTENTIAL CLIENTS

OR VIPs VISITING US,

THE PRESSURE IS TREMENDOUS
ON THE CAPTAINS.

♪♪

Narrator: CAPTAIN SYED ABDULLAH
IS KENNETH'S RIGHT-HAND MAN

AND CHIEF PILOT.

I HAVE BEEN FLYING
ABOUT 42 YEARS.

I WAS IN THE MALAYSIAN
ROYAL AIR FORCE,

IN THE FIGHTER SQUADRON BEFORE.

-AYE, CAPTAIN. HOW ARE YOU?
-FINE.

AIRFISH READY
FOR TAKEOFF.

Narrator: SMALL PASSENGER PLANES
CRUISE AT UP TO A MILE HIGH

AND CAN BURN HUNDREDS OF GALLONS
OF FUEL AN HOUR.

STAND BY FOR TAKEOFF.

BUT THE AIRFISH IS AN ALTOGETHER
DIFFERENT ANIMAL.

ITS RUNWAY IS THE WATER.

IT SKIMS FASTER AND FASTER
ALONG THE WAVES,

AND AT 40 MILES PER HOUR,
IT TAKES OFF.

♪♪

THE FLYING SHIP
HITS CRUISING HEIGHT

AT JUST A FEW FEET IN THE AIR

AND ONLY USES ABOUT
AS MUCH FUEL

AS A SPORTS CAR.

STAND BY.
AIRBORNE.

TO ACCOMPLISH THIS,
ENGINEERS HAD TO LOOK TO NATURE

AND TO THE
GROUND-EFFECT PHENOMENON.

♪♪

SEA BIRDS,
LIKE THE SEA EAGLE,

SAVE ENERGY BY FLYING
SO CLOSE TO THE WATER

THAT A LIFT-INDUCING
CUSHION OF AIR

FORMS BETWEEN THEIR WINGS
AND THE WAVES.

♪♪

BUT VORTICES OF AIR GENERATED AT
THE WING TIPS CAN SLOW FLIGHT,

SO THE EAGLE BREAKS THEM UP

BY RAISING ITS END FEATHERS.

♪♪

THE FLYING SHIP'S AERODYNAMICS
MIMIC THIS TECHNIQUE.

UNLIKE MOST PLANES,

ITS HUGE WINGS ARCH DOWN

TO GATHER A HIGH-PRESSURE
AIR CUSHION BENEATH THEM,

AND TO CUT DRAG,

UPTURNED WINGLETS BREAK
THE VORTICES AT THE TIPS,

SO IT CAN REACH
BLISTERING SPEEDS

ON A TINY AMOUNT OF FUEL.

[ PIERCING SCREECH ]

THE AIRFISH ALSO FLIES
WITH A DISTINCT TRIANGULAR WING.

IT'S A RADICAL TAKE
ON A STREAMLINED DESIGN

SEEN IN FAST JETS,

KNOWN AS A DELTA WING.

BUT THE FLYING SHIP FLIPS
THIS DESIGN BACKWARDS

INTO WHAT'S CALLED
A REVERSE DELTA.

THE WIDE, LEADING EDGE
OF THIS WING TRAPS AIR

AND FUNNELS IT UNDER THE CRAFT,
CREATING MAXIMUM LIFT.

Tan: IT'S DESIGNED TO CAPITALIZE
ON THIS GROUND EFFECT.

THEREFORE, IT'LL MAXIMIZE LIFT
AND REDUCE DRAG,

AND AT THE SAME TIME,
REMAIN STABLE.

Narrator: THE PRINCIPLE
OF GROUND EFFECT

IS BEAUTIFULLY SIMPLE,

BUT BUILDING A CRAFT
THAT EXPLOITS IT

IS A HERCULEAN CHALLENGE.

♪♪

SO, THE WINGS ARE CONSTRUCTED
WITH CUTTING-EDGE MATERIALS.

A TOUGH, TITANIUM FRAME SUPPORTS

THE 50-FOOT-LONG WING SPAN

IN THE DISTINCTIVE
REVERSE DELTA SHAPE.

IT'S WRAPPED
IN A CARBON-FIBER SHELL

TO FUNNEL A HIGH-PRESSURE
AIR CUSHION UNDER THE SHIP.

ON EACH WING,
A TOUGH CANOE-SIZED FLOAT,

KNOWN AS A SPONSON,

ABSORBS WAVE IMPACT
DURING FLIGHT.

THE VORTEX-BREAKING WINGLETS
BEND SHARPLY UPWARDS

AND CAN WITHSTAND SPEEDS
OF CLOSE TO 130 MILES PER HOUR.

THESE UNIQUE WINGS ARE
AN AERODYNAMIC MASTERPIECE.

THE FLYING SHIP IS
PERFORMING FLAWLESSLY

IN ITS FINAL TEST RUN

BEFORE ITS DEMO
FOR THE HOTEL'S EXECUTIVES.

♪♪

YEAH, WE ARE HERE
AND LANDED.

KENNETH IS NOW READY TO WELCOME

THE FLYING SHIP'S
FIRST POTENTIAL BUYERS.

EXECUTIVE SUNITA BASHKARAM

AND STEVE WOON
WANT TO SEE HOW QUICKLY

THE AIRFISH CAN FERRY GUESTS
TO THE HOTEL.

WE ARE ONE OF THE BEST RESORTS
IN MALAYSIA.

WE ARE TRYING
TO DIFFERENTIATE OURSELVES

FROM THE NORMAL CROWD
IN THE MARKET.

Narrator: BUT WILL THE RIDE
IN THE FLYING SHIP

LIVE UP TO STEVE AND SUNITA'S
HIGH EXPECTATIONS?

IT LOOKS LIKE A FISH TO ME.
[ LAUGHS ]

A WHITE FISH.

THE EXPERIENCE COULD
BE THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN INVESTING
OR WALKING AWAY.

-THANK YOU, CAPTAIN.
-HI. HI.

Narrator: KENNETH HAS
PROMISED TO CUT

THE TYPICAL TWO-HOUR CAR JOURNEY
TO PORT DICKSON

TO LESS THAN 45 MINUTES.

I'M GOING TO TIME MYSELF TO SEE
EXACTLY HOW MANY MINUTES

IT'S GOING TO TAKE ME TO REACH
THE LEXIS HIBISCUS PORT DICKSON.

♪♪

-OKAY, DONE.
-OKAY.

YES.

Narrator: 13 YEARS OF HARD WORK

HAVE BEEN LEADING UP
TO THIS CRITICAL MOMENT.

BUT EVEN THE BEST LAID PLANS
QUICKLY RUN INTO PROBLEMS.

THE WIND HAS PICKED UP.

THE ONCE CALM SEA
IS BECOMING VERY CHOPPY.

-FLASH ENGAGE.
-FLASH ENGAGE.

♪♪

Narrator: THE CONDITIONS
COULD MAKE IT HARDER

TO GET TO TAKEOFF SPEED.

AND A LONG, BUMPY TAKEOFF COULD
RUIN THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE.

-WHOA!
-OHH!

Narrator: THIS IS KENNETH'S
WORST NIGHTMARE.

IT'S VERY BUMPY.

HE HAS TO TAKE OFF NOW

OR HIS DREAMS COULD SINK
WITHOUT A TRACE.

♪♪

Narrator:
IN THE WATERS OF MALAYSIA,

THE FLYING SHIP HAS BEGUN
ITS MOST IMPORTANT TEST TO DATE.

♪♪

IF THESE EXECS ARE IMPRESSED,

THEIR HOTEL COULD BE
THE FIRST OWNERS

OF A PRIVATE FLYING SHIP.

BUT THE CHOPPY SEA IS
MAKING TAKEOFF ANYTHING

BUT SMOOTH SAILING.

THE FLYING SHIP SHOULD BE
JUST SECONDS AWAY FROM TAKEOFF.

BUT WITH EACH LIFT OF THE NOSE,

THE ROUGH WATER
SUCKS THE HULL BACK

AND SLAMS IT DOWN ONTO
THE WATER AGAIN AND AGAIN.

OHH!

IT'S NOT THE SMOOTH RIDE
THE HOTEL EXECS WERE HOPING FOR.

WHOA.

♪♪

BUT TO OVERCOME
ROUGH TAKEOFFS,

THE AIRFISH USES
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED

FOR HIGH-POWER SPORT BOATS.

♪♪

TRADITIONAL BOATS
HAVE A SMOOTH HULL,

BUT WHEN THEY GAIN SPEED,

THE LARGE SURFACE AREA
BUILDS UP MORE AND MORE DRAG.

BUT SOME OF THE FASTEST BOATS
HAVE A CUTOUT IN THE HULL,

CALLED A STEP.

SO AS THEY SPEED UP,

THEY LIFT UP ONTO THE STEP
AND SKIM THE WATER'S SURFACE

ON JUST A TINY PATCH OF HULL.

THE AIRFISH BORROWS THIS DESIGN,

USING ITS OWN STEP
TO PUSH OUT OF THE WATER

AND TO GET TO TAKEOFF SPEED
QUICKER.

♪♪

WHEN IT HITS 40 MILES PER HOUR,

THE WINGS TAKE OVER
AND LIFT THE SHIP INTO THE AIR.

IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY FEAT
OF NAUTICAL ENGINEERING.

♪♪

BUT TO BATTLE THROUGH
THESE CHOPPY WATERS,

KENNETH HAS TO OPEN
THE THROTTLE COMPLETELY.

AND THE FLYING SHIP
RISES UP ON ITS STEP.

♪♪

GLIDING ON A CUSHION
OF COMPRESSED AIR,

THE BUMPY START INSTANTLY
BECOMES AN EFFORTLESS RIDE.

YEAH.

♪♪

[ Chuckling ]
YEAH, EXACTLY.

♪♪

WITH CLEAR WATER AHEAD,
KENNETH INCREASES THE SPEED.

OH, 8 MINUTES.

Narrator: 76 KNOTS IS FASTER
THAN ANY YACHT ON EARTH.

♪♪

BUT HOW DOES THE FLYING SHIP
ACHIEVE THESE SPEEDS

SO QUICKLY AFTER TAKEOFF?

♪♪

THE PUMPING HEART
OF THE FLYING SHIP

HAS THE SAME 7-LITER,
V-8 ENGINE AS A CORVETTE.

DURING TAKEOFF, IT DELIVERS
A STAGGERING 500 HORSEPOWER.

ITS CRANKSHAFT DRIVES A PAIR
OF SUPER-STRONG RUBBER BELTS

THAT WHIP THROUGH THE CRAFT
AT MORE THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR.

THEY DELIVER THE RAW ENGINE
POWER TO LARGE GEARS

WHICH TRANSFER ROTATION
ALONG DRIVESHAFTS,

SPINNING TWO
CUSTOM-ENGINEERED PROPELLERS

AT OVER 1,000 RPM.

THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND
PRECISION POWER TRAIN

ALLOWS THE FLYING SHIP TO SOAR
AT CLOSE TO 130 MILES PER HOUR.

THE FLYING SHIP CUTS THROUGH THE
AIR WITH INCREDIBLE EFFICIENCY.

IT USES JUST A FRACTION
OF THE FUEL

OF A SIMILAR-SIZED HELICOPTER,

WHILE POTENTIALLY SATISFYING

STEVE AND SUNITA'S NEED

FOR FAST HOTEL TRANSPORTATION.

THE VIPs MAY BE TEMPTED
TO BUY ONE YET.

THE MOMENT WHEN CLIENTS
LIKE THEM BUY ONE OF THESE,

AND THE REST WILL FOLLOW SUIT.

THE FASTEST WE CAN GET BY LAND
FROM BACK THERE

TO OUR PLACE IS
ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF.

THAT'S THE FASTEST...
YEAH.

...WHICH RARELY YOU GET.

IT WOULD PROBABLY BE TAKING
ABOUT TWO HOURS.

EXACTLY.

♪♪

KENNETH'S BEEN LUCKY
WITH THE SEA TRAFFIC SO FAR,

BUT THAT'S ABOUT TO CHANGE.

♪♪

THE STRAIT OF MALACCA
ARE DOTTED WITH BIG OBSTACLES.

♪♪

AT THESE SPEEDS,
A COLLISION COULD BE FATAL.

AND UNLIKE AN ORDINARY PLANE,

THEY CAN'T ADJUST ALTITUDE
TO FLY OVER THESE OBSTACLES.

THE CAPTAIN MUST MANEUVER
AROUND THE TANKERS.

THE FLYING SHIP STEERS
JUST LIKE A PLANE.

ROLLING.

CAPTAIN SYED TURNS
THE CONTROL WHEEL

AND FLAPS ON
THE WINGLETS AND TAIL

ROLL THE CRAFT ONTO
A SMOOTH, CURVING PATH.

OH, OKAY.

HE EASES THE FLYING SHIP
SAFELY AROUND THE TANKERS.

♪♪

AND THEY'VE GOT A CLEAR PATH
TO THE HOTEL.

♪♪

THIS IS THE HIBISCUS
IN FRONT.

WHOA, THERE, LOOK.
IT'S THE HIBISCUS.

Narrator: THE FLYING SHIP HAS
CLEARLY IMPRESSED THE GUESTS,

SMASHING THE TYPICAL
TWO-HOUR JOURNEY TIME

TO PORT DICKSON BY 90 MINUTES.

WE JUST FLEW 22 MINUTES,
AND WE CAN SEE THE RESORT.

IT'S RIGHT
IN FRONT OF US NOW.

IF WE ARE GUESTS, YOU KNOW,
FROM THE RESORT,

WHO WANTS TO GO
TO MALACCA,

THIS IS DEFINITELY
A VERY GOOD ALTERNATIVE.

♪♪

THE SIGNS ARE POSITIVE,

BUT AFTER ROUGH SEAS ROCKED
THE CLIENTS DURING TAKEOFF,

KENNETH COULD USE
A SMOOTH LANDING.

HE EASES BACK ON THE THROTTLE,

SLOWING TO 40 MILES PER HOUR.

ANY TIME NOW.

THIS CAUSES THE AIR FLOW
UNDER THE REVERSE DELTA WING

TO SLOW SIGNIFICANTLY,

REDUCING LIFT.

♪♪

-BRACE.
-OKAY.

Narrator: BUT THE SEA
STILL ISN'T PLAYING BALL.

THE CHOPPY WATER IS
MAKING LANDING

EVEN BUMPIER THAN TAKEOFF.

♪♪

OHH!

[ BEEPING ]

Narrator:
WILL THE ROUGH EXPERIENCE

THROW THESE CLIENTS'
EXPECTATIONS OFF COURSE?

Narrator: WHILE TRYING
TO WOO HOTEL EXECUTIVES

INTO PURCHASING THIS
STATE-OF-THE-ART FLYING SHIP,

CHOPPY WATERS MAKE
EVERYONE BRACE

FOR A ROUGH LANDING.

BUT TO OVERCOME THIS,
ENGINEERS HAD TO DESIGN

THE FLYING SHIP TO ROLL
WITH THESE PUNCHES.

♪♪

ABOVE THE HULL,

THIS MACHINE
IS BUILT FOR THE AIR,

USING MATERIALS THAT ARE
LIGHTWEIGHT AND TOUGH.

OUTSIDE IS A SUPER-STRONG
CARBON-FIBER SHELL.

INSIDE IS A STURDY
HONEYCOMB STRUCTURE

THAT'S INFUSED
WITH HEAT-RESISTANT RESIN

TO DOUBLE THE STRENGTH.

BELOW THE COCKPIT,

THE HULL IS BUILT
TO TAKE A SERIOUS BEATING.

UNDER A TOUGH FIBERGLASS SKIN
IS A BUOYANT PVC-FOAM CORE

THAT'S DESIGNED
TO ABSORB WAVE STRIKES.

THESE TWO VERY DIFFERENT
HALVES WORK TOGETHER

AND ALLOW THE FLYING SHIP
TO LAND SAFELY.

♪♪

NOT TOO BAD.

♪♪

WOW! THE WIND IS...
WHEW, TERRIBLE.

OKAY.
WHOA. WHOA.

RELAX.

BUT KENNETH IS CONCERNED THAT
THE BUMPY TAKEOFF AND LANDING

MAY HAVE RUINED HIS CHANCES
OF SEALING A DEAL.

WITH MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS AT STAKE,

KENNETH MUST FIND OUT
WHAT THE HOTELIERS THINK.

♪♪

HOW DOES AIRFISH JOB
WITH YOUR CLIENTELE?

♪♪

I THINK THOSE VISITING
TRAVELERS, YOU KNOW,

WHO LIKE TO HAVE
SOME ADVENTURE

COMING DOWN TO OUR PLACE
FROM MALACCA,

THEY WOULD FIND IT SOMETHING
VERY, VERY EXCITING,

AND I THINK IT'D BE
A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE LOOK VERY MUCH FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH AIRFISH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR COMING ONBOARD.

Bashkaram:
THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪♪

Narrator:
IT'S BEEN A GOOD DAY.

THEY FLYING SHIP
HAS PROVED ITS WORTH

TO THE PEOPLE THAT
REALLY MATTER --

ITS POTENTIAL BUYERS.

BUT KENNETH ISN'T LIMITING

THE FLYING SHIP'S POTENTIAL
TO THE TOURISM MARKET.

HE THINKS IT COULD ALSO BE USED
FOR AN EVEN GREATER CHALLENGE --

AS AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLE

FOR A PROBLEM THAT IMPACTS
THE SEAS OFF MALAYSIA --

OIL SPILLS.

Tan: OIL SPILLS ARE
A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM

AND THEY CREATE
ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE.

NARRATOR: KENNETH
THINKS HIS FLYING SHIP

COULD REVOLUTIONIZE THE WAY
THE MALAYSIAN AUTHORITIES DEAL

WITH THESE DISASTERS.

♪♪

MALAYSIA'S MALACCA STRAIT IS

ONE OF THE BUSIEST COMMERCIAL
WATERWAYS IN THE WORLD.

NEARLY 100,000 OIL TANKERS

PASS THROUGH HERE EVERY YEAR.

THE RISK OF OIL SPILLS IS HIGH.

WHEN A DISASTER HAPPENS,
MARINE ENGINEERS SPRAY

OIL-BUSTING CHEMICALS
OVER THE SLICK

TO BREAK IT DOWN
BEFORE IT SPREADS TOO FAR.

BUT FINDING THE BEST VEHICLE
TO DEPLOY THESE CHEMICALS

EFFECTIVELY IS A HUGE CHALLENGE.

♪♪

CHEMICAL-SPRAYING BOATS

CAN CARRY HEAVY LOADS
OF OIL DISPERSANT

AND CAN COVER LARGE AREAS,

BUT THEY MUST MOVE SLOWLY

TO AVOID CREATING A WAKE

AND SPREADING THE OIL FURTHER.

WHEN SPEED IS OF THE ESSENCE,

HELICOPTERS ARE FAST,

BUT THEY'RE COSTLY TO OPERATE

FOR THE SMALL LOAD
THEY CAN CARRY.

♪♪

AIRPLANES ARE FAST
AND CAN CARRY A HEAVY LOAD,

BUT THEY NEED
EXPENSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE,

INCLUDING DEDICATED RUNWAYS.

BUT THE FLYING SHIP
USES THE WATER AS ITS RUNWAY.

IT'S FAST AND ECONOMICAL,

AND, IN THEORY,
SHOULD GENERATE ALMOST NO WAKE.

♪♪

Tan: I BELIEVE OUR AIRFISH WILL

BE ABLE TO HELP RESOLVE
THESE OIL SPILL ISSUES.

♪♪

BUT THIS IS THE MAN
KENNETH MUST CONVINCE.

♪♪

CAPTAIN KALEED J. ZULKURNAIN IS
OIL SPILL TECHNICAL COORDINATOR

FOR THE MALAYSIAN
MARINE DEPARTMENT.

WHEN A SPILL HAPPENS,

IT'S HIS JOB TO CONTAIN IT.

THERE WERE 60 CASES
OF OIL SPILLS

REPORTED IN 2016 ALONE.

KENNETH WANTS
TO CONVINCE KALEED

THAT THE FLYING SHIP COULD
BE A REAL ASSET

IN TREATING OIL SPILLS

AND SECURE A CONTRACT.

HEY, KALEED.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.

-HOW ARE YOU?
-OKAY. COME ON IN.

-SO THIS IS HER?
-THIS IS IT.

THIS IS AIRFISH.

-AIRFISH 8.
-YES.

♪♪

Narrator: KALEED
ISN'T HERE ALONE.

WAITING OFFSHORE
IS A MARINE DEPARTMENT

OIL SPILL UNIT.

♪♪

THEY'RE SETTING UP
FOR A FULL-SCALE

OIL SPILL SIMULATION DRILL

TO PUT THE FLYING SHIP
IN A HIGH-STAKES TEST.

♪♪

THOUGH IT'S NEVER BEEN TESTED,

KENNETH BELIEVES
THE FLYING SHIP CAN

MATCH THE PERFORMANCE
OF AN OIL-DISPERSANT HELICOPTER.

♪♪

HE MUST LOAD THE FLYING SHIP
WITH A 1-TON PAYLOAD --

THE WEIGHT OF A LOADED

HELICOPTER
OIL-DISPERSANT TANK --

AND TAKE OFF.

♪♪

KENNETH HAS PROMISED KALEED

THAT THEY CAN REACH
THE SPILL SITE

WITHIN A 15-MINUTE DEADLINE,

WHICH IS TWICE AS FAST

AS A CHOPPER'S PREP
AND FLIGHT TIME.

-LET'S DO IT THEN.
-EXCELLENT.

THAT'S ALL
I WANT TO HEAR.

WHEN THEY GET TO THE SITE,

THE FLYING SHIP MUST CRUISE

DIRECTLY OVER
THE STIMULATED SPILL,

AS IF DEPLOYING
CHEMICAL DISPERSANTS.

Zulkurnain:
WHAT WE INTEND TO LOOK AT TODAY

IS THAT THE AIRFISH 8
CREATE THE MINIMAL DISTURBANCE

ON THE OIL SLICK,

ON THE SEA WATER SURFACE.

Narrator: IF THE FLYING SHIP
SPREADS THE SPILL,

KENNETH CAN SAY GOODBYE
TO A POTENTIAL CONTRACT.

♪♪

Tan: IT'S NERVE-RACKING.

HOWEVER, I BELIEVE AIRFISH
WILL BE ABLE TO PERFORM

AND LIVE UP TO ITS EXPECTATION.

Narrator: WHILE KALEED OVERSEES
THE MARINE DEPARTMENT TEAM...

♪♪

...KENNETH PREPS
THE FLYING SHIP

FOR THE FIRST STAGE
OF THE CHALLENGE.

OKAY, GUYS.

LOAD UP.

HE HAS TO FLY WITH
AN EXTRA 1-TON PAYLOAD,

THE SAME WEIGHT AS A FULL LOAD
OF OIL DISPERSANT.

THIS IS A LEAP
INTO THE UNKNOWN.

HE'S NEVER FLOWN WITH
THIS MUCH WEIGHT BEFORE.

♪♪

WELL, IT'S LIKE THIS --
THIS IS VERY HEAVY

TO SIMULATE THE
FULL CONDITION OF 1 TON.

Narrator: LOADED WITH SAND BAGS
AND SIX CREW MEMBERS,

THE FLYING SHIP IS
UP TO THE RIGHT WEIGHT.

BUT NOW IT'S UNBALANCED.

♪♪

Tan: BALANCING LOAD
DURING FLIGHT

IS VERY IMPORTANT

AS IT WILL AFFECT THE STABILITY
OF ANY AIRCRAFTS.

Narrator: TO ACHIEVE
STABILITY IN THE FLIGHT,

THE FLYING SHIP RELIES ON
A COMPLEX SET OF MECHANISMS.

♪♪

IT MAKES USE OF
ITS TWIN FUEL TANKS

THAT SIT ON EITHER SIDE
OF THE CABIN.

♪♪

THE TWO SEGMENTED TANKS
HOLD 65 GALLONS OF FUEL --

ENOUGH TO TRAVEL 300 MILES.

THE FUEL IS FED
TO A HIGH-PRESSURE PUMP.

ITS PRIMARY JOB IS
TO INJECT 20 GALLONS OF FUEL

INTO THE ENGINE EVERY HOUR.

[ RUMBLING ]

BUT THE PUMP CAN ALSO
REDISTRIBUTE FUEL

BETWEEN THE TANKS,

ALTERING THE BALANCE
OF THE CRAFT,

TO GIVE THE AIRFISH
A STABLE RIDE,

NO MATTER HOW LOPSIDED THE LOAD.

THIS BALANCING ACT IS
GREAT IN THEORY,

BUT THE FLYING SHIP'S NEVER BEEN
TESTED LIKE THIS IN PRACTICE.

WILL IT LIVE UP TO SUCH
HIGH EXPECTATIONS?

Narrator: HOPING TO SECURE A
LUCRATIVE GOVERNMENT CONTRACT,

THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND FLYING SHIP
IS PREPARING FOR A TEST RUN

IN COMBATING
DANGEROUS OIL SPILLS.

♪♪

OIL SPILL TECHNICAL
COORDINATOR KALEED

SETS UP THE SIMULATED SLICK.

HIS CREW INFLATES A HUGE,
SEGMENTED HOSE,

KNOWN AS A BOOM,

AND DROPS IT INTO THE WATER.

Zulkurnain: YOU ALL CAN SEE
THE BOOM THAT WE ARE USING IS

ACTUALLY USED
IN A REAL SCENARIO.

IT'S THE REAL BOOM
THAT IS DEPLOYED

FOR ACTUAL OIL SPILLS AT SEA.

Narrator: A SMALLER BOAT PULLS
THE BOOM OUT ON THE WATER,

CREATING A HORSESHOE-SHAPED
CONTAINMENT AREA

THE SIZE OF THREE
OLYMPIC SWIMMING POOLS

TO HOLD THE OIL SPILL SIMULANT.

ONCE THE BOOM IS
PERFECTLY DEPLOYED,

KALEED MUST CREATE
THE SIMULATED SPILL.

HE'S USING A SURPRISING
INGREDIENT --

POPCORN.

POPCORN HAS THE ALMOST
IDENTICAL CHARACTERISTICS

TO AN OIL SLICK

WHEN IT INTERACTS
WITH THE WATER,

AND MOST IMPORTANT,
IT IS BIODEGRADABLE.

♪♪

Narrator: THIS NATURAL MATERIAL
WILL ALSO SHOW WHETHER

THE FLYING SHIP COULD BE
DEPLOYED OVER AN OIL SPILL

WITHOUT SPREADING
THE OIL FURTHER.

WHEN THE AIRFISH 8
FLIES OVER THE POPCORN,

ANY ENERGY OR DOWNWASH CREATED
WILL DISPERSE THE POPCORN.

Narrator:
WITH THE BOOM IN POSITION,

THEY DEPLOY THE POPCORN.

[ INDISTINCT CHATTER ]

♪♪

IT SPREADS TO FORM LARGE
STREAKS IN THE WATER.

BUT THE WIND AND WAVES
GATHER IT TOGETHER

AT THE APEX OF THE BOOM,

JUST LIKE SPILLED OIL,

CREATING A TIGHTLY-PACKED SLICK
THE SIZE OF A TENNIS COURT.

-OKAY, SIR!
-LAST POPCORN.

-OVERBOARD!
-OKAY.

[ LAUGHTER ]

Narrator: WITH THE SLICK
PERFECTLY CONTAINED

INSIDE THE BOOM,

THE STAGE IS SET.

BUT TO FLY OVER
A SLICK THIS SMALL

WILL REQUIRE PINPOINT ACCURACY.

AIRFISH, OIL CONTROL.

AIRFISH, OIL CONTROL.

OVER.

ZULKURNAIN: Airfish 8,
this is oil control.

READY FOR TEST.

WE ARE MOVING OUT NOW.

[ WALKIE TALKIE CHIRPS ]

Narrator: THE FLYING SHIP

HAS JUST 15 MINUTES
TO GET TO THE SITE,

BUT WITH HIS UNTESTED PAYLOAD,

KENNETH WON'T KNOW FOR SURE

IF THEY'LL EVEN BE ABLE
TO TAKE OFF.

♪♪

WE ARE READY
FOR TAKEOFF.

POWERING UP.

HE PUNCHES THE THROTTLE.

THIS IS THE HEAVIEST PAYLOAD THE
FLYING SHIP HAS EVER CARRIED.

♪♪

IF THEY CAN'T TAKE OFF,
THEY WILL FAIL.

♪♪

IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD.

♪♪

BUT THEN...

♪♪

YES!

Narrator: ...LIFTOFF.

THE FIRST CHALLENGE
IS COMPLETE.

TWO MORE TO GO.

-BALANCING THE FUEL NOW.
-BALANCING FUEL.

Narrator: CAPTAIN SYED
ADJUSTS THE BALANCE

OF THE FULLY-LOADED CRAFT
ONE LAST TIME

AND INCREASES THE SPEED.

THEY HAVE JUST 12 MINUTES LEFT
TO GET TO THE TEST SITE.

BUT THE FASTER THE CRAFT MOVES
ABOVE THE OCEAN SURFACE,

THE MORE NOSE LIFT IT GENERATES,

AND A RISING NOSE CAN BE
A DANGEROUS THING

FOR VESSELS THAT MOVE
QUICKLY OVER THE WATER.

♪♪

JUST ASK THE SKIPPERS
OF POWER BOATS LIKE THESE.

POWER BOATS USE A COMBINATION
OF BRUTE FORCE

AND STREAMLINED AERODYNAMICS
TO RIDE AT 200 MILES PER HOUR.

♪♪

BUT WHEN THEY PUSH TOO HARD,

OR A ROGUE GUST OF WIND HITS,

THE RESULTS CAN BE CATASTROPHIC.

♪♪

SPEED INCREASING.
75 KNOT.

RPM 55.

SO, THE FLYING SHIP
MUST QUICKLY COUNTERACT

ITS NATURALLY-RISING NOSE
TO PREVENT ITSELF FROM FLIPPING.

WE ARE CRUISING
75 KNOTS.

♪♪

WHEN THE PILOT NEEDS TO STOP
THE NOSE FROM RISING,

HE MANIPULATES
THE CONTROL STICK.

THIS PULLS ON A STEEL CABLE THAT
RUNS THROUGH A SET OF PULLEYS,

50 FEET THROUGH
THE LENGTH OF THE SHIP,

TO THE ENORMOUS
33-FOOT-WIDE TAIL.

THE CABLE ATTACHES
TO THE BROAD TAIL FLAP,

PULLING IT DOWN,

AND FORCING THE REAR
OF THE FLYING SHIP UP.

THIS COUNTERACTS THE RISING NOSE

AND LEVELS THE VESSEL.

WITH ITS OVERSIZED TAIL FLAP,

THE PILOT CAN PUSH THE SHIP
TO THE LIMIT

WITHOUT FEAR OF FLIPPING.

♪♪

WE ARE SLIGHTLY HIGH.

LOWERING THE NOSE.

THE FLYING SHIP RACES
AT CLOSE TO 100 MILES PER HOUR

TO HIT KENNETH'S 15-MINUTE
INTERCEPT DEADLINE.

♪♪

WAIT. WHAT IS THAT?
WHAT IS THAT?

THEY MAKE IT TO THE SITE WITH
JUST THREE MINUTES TO SPARE.

AN OIL-RESPONSE HELICOPTER
WOULD STILL BE ON THE GROUND,

RUNNING CHECKS.

THERE, THERE, THERE.

EXCELLENT.
THE AIRFISH 8.

♪♪

Narrator:
KALEED IS IMPRESSED.

KENNETH HAS PROVED
THAT THE FLYING SHIP

CAN CARRY THE NECESSARY LOAD
AND GET TO THE SCENE QUICKLY.

BUT NONE OF THAT MATTERS
IF IT FAILS THE ULTIMATE TEST

WHEN IT FLIES
OVER THE SLICK.

POWER, BRING BACK
TO 6,000.

IF THE SHIP'S UNDER-WING
AIR CUSHION

SENDS THE POPCORN FLYING,

ALL KENNETH'S WORK
WILL BE FOR NOTHING.

THE APPROACH ANGLE
IS PRETTY SHARP.

UGH!

Narrator: THE REVOLUTIONARY
FLYING SHIP HAS IMPRESSED

THE MALAYSIAN
MARINE DEPARTMENT,

PROVING THAT IT CAN FLY FAST

WITH A MASSIVE 1-TON PAYLOAD.

SPEED INCREASING
TO 75 KNOT.

BUT THE FINAL PART OF THE TEST
IS A LEAP INTO THE UNKNOWN.

THIS IS THE TIME THAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY CONSIDER HER,

WHETHER SHE'S FEASIBLE
TO BE UTILIZED

FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT.

Narrator: CAPTAIN KALEED NEEDS
TO KNOW IF THE FLYING SHIP

CAN CRUISE OVER
THE SIMULATED SLICK

WITHOUT SENDING
THE POPCORN OIL SPILL FLYING.

♪♪

A POTENTIALLY-LUCRATIVE
GOVERNMENT CONTRACT

COULD REST ON THE NEXT
CRITICAL MINUTE.

POWER 5,500.

BUT WITH THE FLYING SHIP
APPROACHING

AT CLOSE TO 100 MILES PER HOUR,

THE AIRFISH'S REPUTATION ISN'T
THE ONLY THING ON THE LINE.

♪♪

AS THE TUGBOATS
LINE UP THE OIL BOOM

IN A HORSESHOE SHAPE,

THE FLYING SHIP NEEDS TO FLY
DIRECTLY OVER THE SPILL

AND STILL KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE
FROM THE BOATS.

♪♪

BUT THE BOATS AND BOOM ARE
MOVING AROUND IN THE CURRENT,

AND KENNETH HAS NO WAY
OF PREDICTING

WHICH WAY THEY WILL DRIFT,

SO THIS TEST COULD
END IN DISASTER.

♪♪

THIS MEANS THE FLYING SHIP'S
FINAL APPROACH

MUST BE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

THE AIRFISH 8 WILL HAVE
TO CONTROL THE ANGLE

AT WHICH IT CROSSES
THE CONTAINMENT AREA.

CAPTAIN SYED LINES UP THE FLYING
SHIP FOR ITS CRUCIAL PASS.

55.

75 KNOTS.

STAND BY.

BUT THE STRONG CURRENT HAS
PUSHED THE BOATS TOGETHER

AND NARROWED
THE TARGET AREA EVEN MORE.

♪♪

THERE'S NO ROOM FOR ERROR.

A MISTAKE COULD
EVEN PROVE FATAL.

♪♪

COMING UP.
STAND BY.

ON HEADING.

THEY'VE MISSED.

NERVOUS OF HITTING
ONE OF THE BOATS,

CAPTAIN SYED STEERS THE CRAFT
JUST WIDE OF THE TARGET.

THE FLYING SHIP HAS
TO MAKE A SECOND ATTEMPT.

LOOKING AT THE CURRENT
CONDITION,

SHE WILL HAVE TO MAKE
A VERY SHARP TURN.

WITH THE COASTLINE LOOMING,
THE TURN WILL BE HARD.

TURNING LEFT.
ROLLING TO THE LEFT.

ROLLING.

BUT TURNING SHARPLY AT 90 MILES
PER HOUR IS FAR FROM EASY.

THIS CRAFT IS OPTIMIZED
FOR EXTREME FLIGHT.

THE TWIN VERTICAL RUDDERS
EACH TOWER 6-1/2-FEET TALL.

FOR MAXIMUM TURNING FORCE,

REINFORCED ALUMINUM FINS
ON THE WINGLETS WORK

WITH THE TAIL RUDDERS
FOR FAST CHANGES IN DIRECTION.

♪♪

50 FEET OF HIGH-TENSILE
STEEL CABLES CREATE

A SECURE, RESPONSIVE LINK

TO DUAL CONTROL STICKS
IN THE COCKPIT...

♪♪

...SO THE PILOT CAN
MANEUVER THE FLYING SHIP

THROUGH THE TIGHTEST OF BENDS.

THE FLYING SHIP
IS MAKING THE TURN,

BUT THE SHARP ANGLE HAS PUT

THE INSIDE WING

DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE WATER.

IN AN AIRPLANE, STRIKING
THE WAVES AT THIS HIGH SPEED

WOULD BE FATAL,

BUT THE FLYING SHIP HAS THE
ULTIMATE SELF-RIGHTING SYSTEM.

AND AS A BACKUP,
THE GIANT FLOATS,

KNOWN AS SPONSONS,

ALSO ABSORB ANY IMPACTS
WITH THE WATER.

SPECS LOOK GOOD.

♪♪

THEY COMPLETE THE TURN,

AND THEY'RE BACK ON TRACK.

THE AIRFISH 8 IS
CURRENTLY APPROACHING

AT RIGHT ANGLES
TO THE CONTAINMENT AREA.

BACK TO LEVEL FLIGHT.
SPEED 75 KNOT.

TEMPERATURE PRESSURE
SAYS NORMAL.

Narrator: THIS TIME,

THEY'RE FLYING
ON THE PERFECT LINE.

13 YEARS AND MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS OF DEVELOPMENT

COULD ALL RIDE
ON THIS SINGLE MOMENT.

♪♪

Narrator: IN MALAYSIA,

ENGINEER AND BUSINESSMAN
KENNETH TAN

IS TAKING 13 YEARS

AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
OF DEVELOPMENT

ON THIS FLIGHT.

HE WANTS TO PROVE
THAT HIS FLYING SHIP

CAN COMBAT OIL SPILLS,

ALL WITHOUT DISPERSING
THE SLICKS

FURTHER INTO THE WATER.

STANDBY.

THE APPROACH ANGLE
IS PRETTY SHARP.

♪♪

STRAIGHT LEVEL.

SYED GETS HIS ANGLES
JUST RIGHT...

♪♪

...AND CRUISES
STRAIGHT OVER THE TARGET.

-YEEEAH!
-YES!

♪♪

Narrator: TO EVERYONE'S RELIEF,
THE FLYING SHIP DOESN'T RAISE

SO MUCH AS A RIPPLE
ON THE WATER.

Zulkurnain: EXCELLENT.

THERE WAS CLOSE TO ZERO

ENERGY TRANSFER
TO THE POPCORN AREA.

YES!

Narrator: THIS TEST SHOWS THAT

IN A REAL SPILL SITUATION,

THE FLYING SHIP COULD DEPLOY
OIL DISPERSANTS ONTO A SLICK

WITHOUT BREAKING IT UP.

ANY DOUBTS THE TEAM
ARE GONE.

♪♪

YES!

♪♪

Tan: THE SPACE THAT WE ARE

SUPPOSED TO FLY THROUGH

WAS SIGNIFICANTLY NARROWER
THAN WHAT WE THOUGHT.

DO ANOTHER ONE.

KENNETH'S ENDURING FAITH
IN THIS UNIQUE CRAFT

IS PAYING OFF.

YES!

IT'S A MOMENT FOR CELEBRATION.

THIS SUCCESS COULD RESULT IN

A LUCRATIVE GOVERNMENT CONTRACT
FOR THE FLYING SHIP.

Tan: WE HAVE DONE IT!

WE HAVE SHOWN KALEED
WHAT WE CAN DO.

WE SENT THE AIRFISH 8
TO SOME TOUGH CHALLENGES,

BUT IT PROVED TODAY,
WITHOUT DOUBT,

THAT IT COULD HANDLE EVERYTHING
THAT WAS THROWN AT IT.

I'M VERY, VERY PROUD
THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED

THESE KIND OF RESULTS.

♪♪

Narrator: THE INCREDIBLE
FLYING SHIP

TURNS EVERYDAY OCEAN TRANSPORT
ON ITS HEAD,

PROVING THAT IT CAN
MOVE FASTER...

WE ARE TRAVELING ABOUT CLOSE
TO 90 MILES PER HOUR.

...CARRY HEAVY PAYLOADS,

AND EVEN CLEAR UP
ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS.

YES!

IT'S ALL THANKS
TO A V-8 POWERHOUSE,

REVERSE DELTA WINGS
THAT GATHER UP AIR,

PROPELLERS THAT SPIN
AT MORE THAN 1,000 RPM,

AND A STEPPED DUAL HULL

THAT HELPS THIS MACHINE
CONQUER BOTH SEA AND AIR.

IT'S THESE TECHNOLOGICAL SECRETS

THAT HAVE HELPED THE FLYING SHIP
EVOLVE TO BECOME...

A MEGA MACHINE.