Instead of designing a yacht with a helicopter deck or storage for a sea plane, what if the yacht itself could transform into a plane? This is what Russian designer Vasily Kluykin has envisioned with his Monaco 2050 luxury yacht concept that transforms into a jet plane.
The design shows a sleek superstructure that looks like one solid piece with extended overhangs and a glass enclosure up top. Then, much like a Harrier Jump Jet or an F-35 fighter plane, the jet plane detaches and rises up from the yacht’s superstructure.
"The upper deck is the part of the yacht and the independent aircraft at the same time," Klyukin said, as reported by CNN. "If necessary, it will rise upwards with the help of the screws embedded in the wings, becoming a helicopter.
"(It's not possible) to cross the Atlantic or to fly to Hong Kong by helicopter. Therefore, after gaining the necessary altitude and speed, it's possible to turn on the jet engines and even go overseas."
The time savings for an owner could be huge as the jet plane could transport the owner to and from the yacht, cutting out airport hassles. No word on how clearing customs would be handled.
The highly futuristic Monaco 2050 yacht is one of the many far-out concepts by Kluykin, none of which have been built yet. But each push the envelope on what is possible and are aimed at sparking a conversation in the world of superyacht design and serve as an inspiring yacht concept to other designers – and the owners who might order such a vessel.
"I truly believe that we (can) create a future giving ... engineers direction to think," Klyukin said to CNN.
Vasily Klyukin might be a dreamer, but he’s one who puts his money behind his dreams. During the Cannes Film Festival AmFar charity gala in 2013, Klyukin reportedly paid €1.2 million to travel to outer space to fly alongside Leonardo Di Caprio on one of the first Virgin Galactic flights. Perhaps his next concept will be a yacht and spaceship in one.