- Development
- Operational history
- Specifications (variant)
- Notes
- References
- External links
| name=Wilson Global Explorer | image=Wilson Global Explorer N376LC (1) Santa Fe NM 25.06.95R edited-2.jpg | caption=The second Global Explorer undergoing maintenance at Santa Fe Airport, New Mexico, in 1995. }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type | type=amphibian | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Dean W. Wilson | designer=Dean W. Wilson | first flight=April 1991 | introduced=1994 | retired= | status=currently airworthy | primary user=international explorers | more users= | produced= | number built=2 | program cost= | unit cost= | developed from= | variants with their own articles=
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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. DevelopmentThe high-wing twin-engine Global Explorer 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.[1] A second aircraft was constructed later. The Global Explorer has an unusually deep and wide fuselage design with many 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 water operations.[2] The mainwheels can be removed and the fixed side sponsons assist flotation and manoeuvering 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. Operational historyThe Explorer 1 was used by Hubert de Chevigny and Nicolas Hulot. It crashed near Paris. The Explorer 2 has been used by Canal + for the French show "dans la nature" with Stephane Perron, with the name "L'Avion", 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and accommodate seven persons overnight.[3] The plane flew finally from Australia to France in 1998 and it was then withdrawn from use and the project was abandoned due to the unique aircraft's high cost of maintenance. Specifications (variant) {{Aircraft specs
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Notes1. ^Simpson, 2001, p.583
2. ^coastcomp.com
3. ^coastcomp.com
References{{refbegin}}- {{cite book|last=Simpson|first=Rod|title=Airlife's World Aircraft|year=2001|publisher=Airlife Publishing Ltd|isbn=1-84037-115-3}}
{{refend}}External links{{commons category|Wilson Global Explorer}}- Website with photographs and data on the Global Explorer
3 : United States civil utility aircraft 1990–1999|Homebuilt aircraft|Amphibious aircraft |