Earth Pre-Federation Database - Deep Flight I

	Crew	One person, prone position
	Life Support	18 Hours
	Flight Endurance	1-4 Hours
	Length	13 ft.
	Wide	8 ft.
	Height	3 ft.
	Weight	2,860 pounds
	Operational Depth	3,300 fsw
	Speed	Max: 12 knots (estimated)Cruise: 4-8 knots Minimum: 2 knots
	Ascent Rate	650 feet/minute
	Descent Rate	480 feet/minute
	Attitude / Roll Range	Through 360 degrees
	From ????

	History:
	Deep Flight I (DF I) is the prototype first stage in an attempt to navigate to the deepest reaches of the ocean and represents a radical new design approach for underwater vehicles. Instead of using a traditional ballast system to control dive and ascent, DF I uses stubby inverted wings to provide "negative" lift that pulls the small sub down. This downward force negates the slightly buoyant characteristics of the sub. At cruising speeds the sub is neutrally buoyant and depends on its thrusters to drive the sub up or down, the same principle used in airplanes. While traditional ballast systems emulate airships and HOT air balloons, this principle, along with DF I's small size, allows the pilot to descend at a very fast rate to maximize bottom time. Since the overall aim is to get to 37,000 ft, it is critical to get to the bottom as quickly as possible to ensure the longest exploration time DF I serves as the technology bridge to the next generation of deep ocean work craft, Deep Flight II. Sponsored in part by Television New Zealand, IMAX, National Geographic Television and Rolex, DFI was launched in September 1996 from the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey, California. Deep Flight has been featured in many primetime television programs, including Dateline NBC and National Geographic Explorer. The H.O.T. design team, with help from a team of volunteers, custom built all the composites on DF I, including the main pressure hull. The electronics and circuit boards were custom designed and built in-house. Mechanical machined parts were out-sourced to local machine shops through detailed production-quality prints. Cameras The subs have control circuits for up to four cameras. The standard fit for television is digital 3-chip video photography; or highdefinition (hdtv) for film projects, there are top and bottom external mounting hard points which can carry cameras up to and including 70 mm large format (IMAX). Lights The standard suite of lights includes 4 wing-mounted and 2 pod-mounted high intensity (forward and downward) lights. Externally mounted HMI lights can be fitted as needed. Text and Pictures from Deep Flight A Deep Flight I seen in the Enterprise Opening Credits