321:
modification, this will extend the testing period through the end of 2011 and move the earliest opportunity of a first dive into early 2012. As of 21 February 2012, Virgin
Oceanic reported successful tests of the ballast and life support systems. However, in June 2012, Welsh described a crack in the sub's protective quartz sphere which would necessitate the sphere's replacement before any deep dives could take place. By September 2012, variable buoyancy problems detected in summer testing had been resolved.
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304:– about 11 kilometers (7 mi) below the ocean's surface. This will be the third time human eyes have set sight there. This time, the plan is for a sub that "flies" more akin to an airplane which should allow its solo pilot, Chris Welsh, to not only reach the deepest point on Earth, but to then "fly" along the bottom of the Trench for up to an additional 10 kilometers (6 mi).
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283:. The sub's outer casing is made of a carbon fiber composite and is designed to maximize hydrodynamics. The second level of casing holds the batteries, dive tanks and all other components. The third and inner most layer is made of titanium with a quartz crystal viewing dome. Instead of using ballast like a typical submersible the
307:
The second dive planned – to the bottom of the Puerto Rico Trench – will be piloted by Sir
Richard Branson. This trench is the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean at over 8 kilometers (5 mi) below sea level. This location is also near to Branson's home and resort on Necker Island in the British
270:
This deep sea submersible, currently in the construction and testing phase, seats one person. The company has stated that it will be able to dive to the deepest part of the ocean, which has been measured to be somewhere between 10.91 kilometres (6.78 mi) deep and 11.03 kilometres (6.85 mi)
311:
Subsequent dives will be planned to carry a human pilot to the bottom of the Arctic, Southern and Indian oceans. Less than 3% of the seafloor has been explored, and none of the deepest points of the planet's oceans have ever been explored beyond a brief visit to one. The opportunities to see and
320:
Originally Virgin
Oceanic's first dive was announced to be scheduled for August 2011 at the Mariana Trench later in 2011, and further dives were scheduled over the next 24 months. As of 20 September 2011 the research and development phase of the program has been extended due to work on design
324:
Based on testing at high pressure, the DeepFlight
Challenger was determined to be suitable only for a single dive, not the repeated uses that had been planned as part of Virgin Oceanic service. As such, in 2014, Virgin Oceanic "scrapped" plans for the five dives project using the DeepFlight
117:
interview. The flagship service provided by Virgin
Oceanic was intended to take visitors to the deepest parts of the ocean; however, as of late 2014, the project has been put on hold until more suitable technologies are developed.
299:
Over the course of 2012 and beyond, Virgin
Oceanic plans for their one-person sub to journey to the deepest part of each of Earth's five oceans. The first dive is planned for the deepest place on the planet: the bottom of the
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The company plans to launch a deep sea submersible capable of carrying its passenger to extreme ocean depths. The deep sea adventure will be supported by the 125-ft super-
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252:'s death the project went on hold until Chris Welsh purchased the equipment from Fossett's estate and restarted the endeavor. The attempt on
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sub to make dives to the depths of the worlds oceans. Both the catamaran and the submersible were formerly owned by
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105:) is an undersea leisure venture of Newport Beach, CA businessman Chris Welsh and Sir Richard Branson, part of Sir
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218:. It is a three-place sub, with two passengers and one dive pilot. All three are required to wear scuba gear.
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Challenger, as originally conceived, putting plans on hold until more suitable technologies are developed.
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504:"Q&A With Graham Hawkes, the Man Who Built the Deep Flight Challenger Submersible"
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in 2012 have ever reached the deepest known point in the ocean at the bottom of the
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uses a custom lithium-ion battery system to power its two motors.
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529:"James Cameron Completes Record-Breaking Mariana Trench Dive"
407:"Sir Richard Branson quietly shelves Virgin submarine plan"
337:, a submarine and oceanographic mission to Challenger Deep.
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The company is offering a shallow water "wet" submersible,
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http://www.bathyscaphetrieste.com/bathyscaphe_trieste.html
359:"Necker Nymph: underwater flying becomes Virgin territory"
405:
Mendick, Robert; Nicholls, Dominic (13 December 2014).
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2014 disestablishments in
British Overseas Territories
244:, who had modified the racing catamaran to become the
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will "fly" to the ocean floor using propulsion. The
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Underwater leisure venture, part of the Virgin Group
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248:for his planned oceanic dive record attempt. After
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647:"Virgin Oceanic's Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"
531:, Ker Than, 25 March 2012 (accessed 27 March 2012)
1664:2009 establishments in the British Virgin Islands
589:"Branson-sponsored deep-sea project faces delays"
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312:learn from such dives are viewed as monumental.
207:The shallow dive program utilizes the scuba-sub
1572:Timeline of Richard Branson's business ventures
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1654:Hospitality companies disestablished in 2014
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1659:Hospitality companies established in 2009
113:. The brand was first reported in a 2009
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174:after Branson's private island in the
136:— open-cockpit SCUBA submersible
7:
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515:History of the Bathyscaphe Trieste.
271:deep. Only two subs in history, the
611:"Tests continue for Virgin Oceanic"
561:Virgin Oceanic (21 February 2012).
256:was first announced in April 2011.
14:
233:mothership, and plans to use the
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645:Strickland, Eliza (March 2012),
383:"Virgin Founder Richard Branson"
25:
542:Infosheet DeepFlight Challenger
142:— sailing catamaran yacht
130:— sailing catamaran yacht
148:— high-depth submersible
1:
540:Hawkes Ocean Technologies,
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827:Virgin Australia Holdings
450:27 September 2011 at the
163:Hawkes Ocean Technologies
38:Limited liability company
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1234:Festival (North America)
551:(accessed 25 March 2012)
434:(accessed 27 March 2012)
1560:"Dirty tricks" campaign
369:(accessed 25 July 2010)
1585:Virgin Earth Challenge
1534:Stephen Clarke-Willson
493:(accessed 25 May 2011)
470:(accessed 25 May 2011)
454:(accessed 25 May 2011)
180:Virgin Limited Edition
176:British Virgin Islands
153:Shallow diving program
1317:Mobile (South Africa)
1297:Media Television (UK)
547:15 March 2012 at the
527:National Geographic,
489:7 August 2011 at the
316:Key dates and timings
289:DeepFlight Challenger
285:DeepFlight Challenger
266:DeepFlight Challenger
260:DeepFlight Challenger
238:DeepFlight Challenger
146:DeepFlight Challenger
1332:Money (South Africa)
1224:Festival (Australia)
954:Virgin Media Ireland
1566:Losing My Virginity
1432:Virgin Radio France
502:Popular Mechanics,
273:Bathyscaphe Trieste
222:Deep diving program
193:as its mothership.
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20:Virgin Oceanic, LLC
1489:Travel City Direct
1302:Mobile (Australia)
1229:Festival (England)
1172:Tigerair Australia
870:Virgin Music Group
613:. 7 September 2012
335:Deepsea Challenger
295:Five Dives project
277:Deepsea Challenger
166:Deep Flight Merlin
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563:"Testing the Sub"
216:DeepFlight Merlin
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569:on 13 March 2012
565:. Archived from
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1649:Virgin Group
1631:
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1564:
1467:ExpressCoach
1457:CrossCountry
1342:Virgin Music
1327:Mobile (USA)
1182:Digital Help
987:Saudi Arabia
843:
815:Roof Gardens
703:Virgin Group
661:, retrieved
657:the original
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275:in 1960 and
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203:Necker Nymph
197:Necker Nymph
191:Necker Belle
187:Necker Nymph
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134:Necker Nymph
128:Necker Belle
111:Virgin Group
102:
101:(originally
98:
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75:Virgin Group
34:Company type
1499:V Australia
1472:Open Access
1392:Racing (F1)
1322:Mobile (UK)
1274:Interactive
1259:Health Bank
1204:Electronics
573:26 February
416:15 December
1638:Categories
1539:Nik Powell
1509:Virgin.net
1482:West Coast
1462:East Coast
1410:Radio (UK)
1372:Radio Free
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1287:Little Red
1282:Limousines
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1494:Vacations
1447:Trainline
1269:Hyperloop
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1037:Kitchener
912:Australia
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1057:Edmonton
1052:Winnipeg
1027:Montreal
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757:Travel /
545:Archived
487:Archived
448:Archived
329:See also
231:Cheyenne
140:Cheyenne
1619:Commons
1415:Classic
1347:Nigeria
1219:Express
1177:Digital
1150:Cinemas
1145:Charter
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880:Records
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844:Oceanic
820:Ulusaba
805:Natirar
788:Chicago
743:Voucher
663:4 March
595:26 June
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1452:Trains
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1264:Heaven
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1187:Drinks
1155:Comics
1130:Brides
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978:Kuwait
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783:Hotels
725:Active
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597:2012
575:2012
418:2014
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1477:USA
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739:Red
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