{{Short description|Aerospace research and development company}} '''Tigerfish Aviation''' is an aerospace research and development company based in [[Norwood, South Australia]].<ref name = Adelaidean>{{citation | title = It's plane sailing for our engineering | publisher = University of Adelaide | date = April 2006 | url = http://www.adelaide.edu.au/adelaidean/issues/10701/news10702.html }}</ref> The company has been developing a retractable pontoon system for the [[float plane]] industry, which has been patented as '''Retractable Amphibious Pontoon Technology''' or '''RAPT''' since the late 1990s.<ref name=AviationWeek>{{Cite web | url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/aviation_week/on_space_and_technology/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9c&plckPostId=Blog%3Aa68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9cPost%3Acd60a1cb-1736-443f-bada-1db8c2f8aee9&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924112550/http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9c&plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9c&plckPostId=Blog:a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9cPost:cd60a1cb-1736-443f-bada-1db8c2f8aee9&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest | archive-date=2012-09-24 | title=Tigerfish - an Idea That Floats, and Flies}}</ref>
==RAPT system== Retractable Amphibious Pontoon Technology(RAPT) is a retractable float concept which aims to reduce [[aerodynamic drag]] by folding the floats into a pannier under the fuselage of the aircraft. The reduction in drag increases performance of the aircraft and reduces its operating cost, such as fuel consumption. Reduction in drag increases the range, payload, speed, and productivity of the aircraft. Drag reduction occurs due to the reduction of surface area exposed to the airstream and concealing the hydrodynamic features of the floats.<ref>CFD Analysis of the Tigerfish Retractable Float System on a DHC-Twin Otter</ref> It is designed as a retrofit, and is potentially capable of application to any existing aircraft. The technology has been applied on a one-sixth scale [[Cessna Caravan]] for concept-proving.
===Technical details=== As of 2010, [[Dornier 228 NG]] is the first proposed aircraft to be retrofitted for the RAPT system, besides the small-scale Cessna. The retractable float system can be used in a varying range of aircraft including regional aircraft, utility aircraft, executive aircraft, military transports, [[VLJ]]s, and [[UAV]]s. The [[University of Adelaide]], with assistance of the South Australian Government,<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.innovation.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/17053/Case_Study_Book.pdf | title=CASE STUDIES - Partnering for Innovation | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003113625/http://www.innovation.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/17053/Case_Study_Book.pdf | archive-date=2011-10-03}}</ref> has performed [[CFD analysis]] and studies on the [[DHC-6 Twin Otter]] showing that the RAPT system would result in a cost benefit. Unlike traditional floats, RAPT pontoons are made of lightweight composite materials, but suffer additional mass penalties due to the electric, hydraulic and structural systems required to retract the pontoons. Total mass penalty has been estimated at {{convert|1420|lbs|kg}} for a [[Dornier 228 NG]] variant.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}
==See also== * [[Float plane]] * [[Amphibious aircraft]] * [[Seaplane]] * [[Flying boats]] * [[Dornier 228 NG]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDg37UuNxMg Video of the '''RAPT system''' in operation] *[http://saeaero.saejournals.org/content/1/1/619.abstract CFD Analysis of the Tigerfish Retractable Float System on a DHC-Twin Otter] *[http://www.tigerfishaviation.net/ Tigerfish Aviation Website] *[http://www.ruag.com/Home/ThemenimFokus_E/Dornier_Norwegen RUAG Dornier 228 NG] *[http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/aviation_week/on_space_and_technology/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=a68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9c&plckPostId=Blog%3aa68cb417-3364-4fbf-a9dd-4feda680ec9cPost%3acd60a1cb-1736-443f-bada-1db8c2f8aee9&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest Aviation Weekly]
[[Category:Aerospace companies of Australia]]