Virgin goes underwater with Necker Nymph aero submarine

Cor blimey! Sir Richard Branson sure is ambitious. Just when you thought conquering the final frontier was all that the Virgin empire was fixated upon, today it announces a new product for its Limited Edition retreats on Planet Earth -- the Necker Nymph aero submarine. As the 'aero' part implies, the vehicle relies on "downward 'lift' on the wings" to counteract its positive buoyancy during its two-hour dives, which probably means it can't remain stationary underwater while you grab nearby weeds or whatnot in those open cockpits. Still, given the chance, we suspect any mere mortal would be up for a spin if beached on Necker Island -- 'course, coming up with the $25,000 per week lease rate may prove to be an insurmountable task.

[weirdo557 Posted Jan 29th 2010 9:43PM]

@(Unverified)

and yet he is still cooler and has more money than you.

[RGSPro Posted Jan 29th 2010 12:28PM]

Now all you have to do is route the controls to this sub in an iPad interface...

I hope I made everyone vomit.

[MoonWalkerCTE Posted Jan 29th 2010 12:32PM]

@RGSPro

I hope that's not over AT&Ts 3G network

[Eugene Action Posted Jan 29th 2010 2:10PM]

for all you underwater Nymph-o's

[Mr Oos Posted Jan 29th 2010 12:28PM]

Haha that picture is hilarious.

I like Sir Branson. I think it's great that he's dedicating so much of his time and resources to making awesome adventures, whether they be in the stratosphere or under water, more available for everyone else.

[HypnoticSilence Posted Jan 29th 2010 12:44PM]

@Mr Oos
No doubt he's definitely one of the cooler "rich" people in the world. I think a lot of other wealth folks could learn a lot from him. He's investing his money to help create technology now to benefit the masses. Although it may be expensive now, I'd expect it to get cheaper with time.

I also like the fact he's just plain crazy.

[malvenko Posted Jan 29th 2010 2:00PM]

@Mr Oos

Yeah... the picture is awesome... I hear he was in fact saying something about this "new" technology... "giant Lasers" or something like that...

[Wikimon Posted Jan 29th 2010 3:03PM]

that's what i'm wondering, what kinda torpedoes can i load it with and does it have an ECM jamming package

[Sarcasme Posted Jan 29th 2010 12:29PM]

Here's the other loco, one Jobs in enogh

[MarcusMaximus Posted Jan 29th 2010 12:38PM]

@Sarcasme Cheaper space flight > iPad. Just sayin'.

[AirieFenix Posted Jan 29th 2010 12:30PM]

Richard, you're a f'*k!n' genius! I wanna be like you when I grow up.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 29th 2010 12:30PM]

this guy is shitbat crazy...

I like.

[s2m0 Posted Jan 29th 2010 12:31PM]

Damn... I read, "virgin", "nympho", and "underwater" and immediately pitched a tent.

Then I realized that's not what the title said.

[CharlieX Posted Jan 29th 2010 12:40PM]

@s2m0 And of course the freakazoid bearded blond dudein the leather jacket throwing peace signs really got your motor running. right?

[ahuyevshi Posted Jan 29th 2010 12:50PM]

@CharlieX LOL... Not that there is anything wrong with liking freakazoids bearded blond dudes....

[nickyboy Posted Jan 29th 2010 12:42PM]

Will there be a version in yellow?

[One Love Posted Jan 29th 2010 12:51PM]

I love "drop-tops", but not in a submarine.

[zondajag Posted Jan 29th 2010 1:19PM]

not something else, Richard Branson's a fool, he should focus on providing better quality on his existing services and not try to monopolise everything in sight. He ruined DSL connections in Britain by buying the main company that provides them then imposing a 'fair usage policy' at certain times of the day that slows your virgin broadband connection to 25% for 5 hours. When streaming hd content you have a window of around an hour until things start getting laggy. And while this is all happening the top level 50mb users have no restrictions whatsoever! Fair usage policy, more like unfair :(
Directionless rant over...

[ECH Posted Jan 29th 2010 1:31PM]

Wearing that leather jacket and flashing that peace sign makes me think that sub might be a time machine back to 1984.

[AirieFenix Posted Jan 29th 2010 1:47PM]

@ECH Yeah, it's Powered by Virgin Flux-Capacitors technology :P

[mrspiteri Posted Jan 29th 2010 2:00PM]

I love the lens flare on his teeth, so true

[MAS Posted Jan 29th 2010 2:23PM]

AERO = air

Much closer to a hydroplane than an aero submarine since the vessel planes through water, not air. Just, as in a conventional hydroplane, Sir Richard's latest toy generates forces on a hydrofoil as it is forced through the water.

Why not call it a submersible hydroplane? (That's what it is.)

Of course, possible candidates would be:
submarineplane
subhydroplane
Branson's folly (not specific enough, though)

[nicksilvestri Posted Jan 29th 2010 2:28PM]

Wouldn't want to be flying on flight 815...
Actually no, I totally would :D

[glennS Posted Jan 29th 2010 2:40PM]

Meanwhile, back in his home, you just know he's gotta be building an Iron Man suit. This guy IS Tony Stark.

[dpaul420 Posted Jan 29th 2010 3:22PM]

@glennS
Ya, you're right, he is Ironman
http://www.fruityfour.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/richard-branson.jpg

[pinecone2654 Posted Jan 29th 2010 3:28PM]

That tooth-sparkle looks shopped

[Brokinarrow Posted Feb 1st 2010 12:36PM]

@pinecone2654 Nooo waaaaay!!!

[joelaf Posted Jan 29th 2010 3:37PM]

Virgin/Island gave Robert Palmer his start, so I can see where bikini clad ladies underwater fits in. Where's the SUYT flag?

[0tto Posted Jan 30th 2010 3:06AM]

Branson is the real life Dos Equis' Most Interesting Man in the World.