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Marine

Video: Underwater flight in the DeepFlight Dragon

By Loz Blain
August 26, 2015
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View 16 Images
Deepflight Dragon: operates like a quadcopter in reverse, pulling down instead of lifting its whole weight upward
Charles Dence/Deepflight
Deepflight Dragon: looks like a Formula One car, drives like a quadcopter
Joe Salas/gizmag.com
Deepflight Dragon: coming in with diver assistance
Loz Blain/gizmag.com
Deepflight Dragon: extra set of prop thrusters on the rear controls horizontal movement and yaw
Joe Salas/gizmag.com
Deepflight Dragon: Loz seems to be weighing the back down a bit. He's in there, promise!
Joe Salas/gizmag.com
Deepflight Dragon: looks fast, goes slow and we don't doubt it's the easiest submersible in the world to drive
Loz Blain/gizmag.com
Deepflight Dragon: lowered into the water on the marina dock
Loz Blain/gizmag.com
Deepflight Dragon: taxiing out to Lake Tahoe
Loz Blain/gizmag.com
Deepflight Dragon: taxiing out to Lake Tahoe
Loz Blain/gizmag.com
Deepflight Dragon: twin rear props handle horizontal movement and turning
Loz Blain/gizmag.com
Deepflight Dragon: never fails to draw a crowd
Loz Blain/gizmag.com
Deepflight Dragon: simple controls. A lever on the left controls depth, a joystick on the right controls movement and turning
Loz Blain/gizmag.com
Deepflight Dragon: coming up to meet your reflection is a spectacular moment
Joe Salas/gizmag.com
Deepflight Dragon: comfortable, pressurised and air conditioned inside. Far less claustrophobic than you might expect
Joe Salas/gizmag.com
Deepflight Dragon: operates like a quadcopter in reverse, pulling down instead of lifting its whole weight upward
Charles Dence/Deepflight
Deepflight Dragon: diving beneath the surface of Lake Tahoe
Charles Dence/Deepflight
Loz drives the Deepflight Dragon before stabilisation is built, and experiences a huge submarine wheelie
Oliver Hawkes/Deepflight
View gallery - 16 images

In our latest review video, Loz scoots over to Lake Tahoe, California, where the Deepflight team is testing its new personal submersible. Shaped like Speed Racer's Mach 5, the Deepflight Dragon is actually an upside-down manned quadcopter capable of going 400 feet (122 m) underwater – and Deepflight claims it's so easy to fly that any fool can do it, even though it's not finished yet. We'll see about that!

Enjoy the full written Deepflight Dragon review, or dip into our gorgeous photo gallery.

Deepflight Dragon: never fails to draw a crowd
Loz Blain/gizmag.com

Deepflight Dragon: coming up to meet your reflection is a spectacular moment
Joe Salas/gizmag.com

Deepflight Dragon: taxiing out to Lake Tahoe
Loz Blain/gizmag.com

View gallery - 16 images

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MarineSubmarineDeepflight
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Loz Blain
Loz has been one of our most versatile contributors since 2007, and has since proven himself as a photographer, videographer, presenter, producer and podcast engineer, as well as a senior features writer. Joining the team as a motorcycle specialist, he's covered just about everything for New Atlas, concentrating lately on clean energy, AI, humanoid robotics, next-gen aircraft, and the odd bit of music and automotive. In February 2024, he stepped up to lead New Atlas as Editorial Director, and he's as curious as anyone to see how that pans out.
2 comments
Primecordial
Equalizing pressure at 5:38, Loz?
ljaques
Looks like fun, but the price is a bit over the top, innit? Oh, Loz, Rap makes me miss disco, and I HATED DISCO.
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