The Wilson Global Explorer is an American-built amphibious aircraft of the early 1990s which has been utilised to assist the exploration of remote areas. The high-wing twin-engine aircraft was designed and constructed by Dean W. Wilson to the order of the explorer Hubert de Chevigny and the aircraft first flew in April 1991. A second aircraft was constructed later.
The Global Explorer has an unusually deep and wide fuselage design with many inserted glazed areas and accommodation at the rear for sleeping and other purposes. For added strength, the high-set wings are each supported by brace structures from the side fuselage and from the lower sponsons. The nose gear retracts forward of the hull and acts as a bumper for operations off water. The main wheels can be removed and the fixed side sponsons assist flotation and manoeuvring on water. Various Lycoming engines of between 200 hp and 300 hp have been fitted, depending on the expected altitude to be reached during planned operations
The Global Explorer has been used by Hubert de Chevigny, with the name "L'Avion" on its nose, in the exploration and filming of a wide variety of locations including Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Argentina's Tierra del Fuego and Bolivia. It can be readily stripped down and shipped by sea to required locations and can carry and accommodate seven persons overnight.
Wikipedia
General characteristics:
Crew: 1
Capacity: 6 passengers and crew
Length: 39 ft 10 in (12.14 m)
Wingspan: 67 ft 0 in (20.42 m)
Height: 22 ft 0 in (6.71 m)
Empty weight: 4,995 lb (2,266 kg)
Gross weight: 8,000 lb (3,629 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Lycoming IO-540 , 300 hp (220 kW) each
Performance:
Maximum speed: 120 mph (193 km/h; 104 kn)
Cruise speed: 110 mph (96 kn; 177 km/h)
Stall speed: 60 mph (52 kn; 97 km/h)
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