Alan Gibbs: James Bond in jandals
A revolutionary sports car that transforms into a speedboat at the touch of a button resulted largely from the drive and innovation of two New Zealanders, Alan Gibbs and Terry Roycroft. Launched in 2003, the Aquada allows users to move effortlessly from sports car to speedboat within 12 seconds and is the world’s first such amphibious vehicle to perform on multiple mediums without compromise.
Seven years in the making, the vehicle is a showcase of High Speed Amphibian (HSA) technology. Powered by a jet propulsion system that generates nearly a tonne of thrust, the Aquada is capable of reaching speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour on land and 48 kilometres per hour on the water. It was this feature that saw Virgin boss, Sir Richard Branson break the record for the fastest crossing of the English Channel in an amphibious vehicle.
Alan Gibbs, one of New Zealand’s richest and most inventive businessmen, was the driving force behind the design and production of the Aquada. While over 1,200 patents had previously been filed for amphibious vehicles, Gibbs saw the potential for overcoming engineering, design and regulatory constraints to produce the world’s first high speed sports amphibian.
Gibbs’ background bridges a diverse spectrum of engineering, manufacturing and economics. He has been involved in New Zealand diplomacy, ownership of New Zealand’s largest retail car dealership, the running of a merchant bank, the formation of New Zealand’s first pay-per-view television channel Sky TV and had a hand in the syndicate that purchased and sold Telecom New Zealand.
The inspiration for the Aquada came from Gibbs’ own personal life. He built his first amphibian vessel in 1995 in an attempt to make it easier to drive his boat out of the water without needing a tractor. His desire to increase the vehicle’s land speed potential was realised when he came across fellow New Zealander Terry Roycroft’s innovative suspension technology and wheel retraction system that reduced vehicle drag and increased travelling speed.
After further trials and a positive feasibility test, the practical phase of the project relocated to Detroit, the world’s car manufacturing hub, and work began on producing a commercially viable vehicle. The operation later moved to the United Kingdom and picked up additional expertise from within the automotive and aerospace industry, in the process ironing out the structural, style, design and regulatory compliance challenges that initial trials had faced.
Alan Gibbs’ Aquada has been recognised and praised internationally. Additional to Branson’s world record, Popular Science Magazine presented the Aquada with the award for ‘Best of What's New 2003’ in the Automotive Technology category, Time Magazine named the Aquada as one of the ‘Best Innovations of 2003’ and it broke the world record for the fastest amphibian, reaching a on-water speed of 32.8 miles an hour in 2003.
For those wanting an amphibious experience without the £150,000 price tag of an Aquada, there are several amphibious vessels operating guided tours throughout New Zealand. The three ‘ducks’ of Rotorua, Paihia and Queenstown are all relics of World War II amphibious vessels, officially known as a DUKWs (D = 1942, U = amphibian, K = front wheel drive, W = rear wheel drive). Each ‘duck’ takes visitors on a unique sightseeing experience around local landmarks and townships not only by land, but also through the area’s waterways.
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