Photo: China Daily
Tao Xiangli, a Chinese inventor, is reported to have built a functional submarine:
Amateur inventor Tao, 34, made a fully functional submarine, which has a periscope, depth control tanks, electric motors, manometer, and two propellers, from old oil barrels and tools which he bought at a second-hand market. He took 2 years to invent and test the submarine which costs 30,000 yuan (US$4,385).
This comes a month after a Chinese farmer was reported to have built a helicopter from spare parts.
Link via Gizmodo
If he did, I hope he has a good escape hatch, and doesn't go too deep.
Jill
I'm a little skeptical how he managed to not only get the money together, but build a submarine without any help. I really wouldn't put it past the Chinese State media to either completely fabricate, or greatly exaggerate these stories.
I mean, did you guys see the comments on website? It made me laugh so hard. Here is one from a supposed American commenter:
"I love this story and if America could remove some of the laws that stop Americans from building and doing we would become a better nation. My Hat is off to you."
:)
From what I know American amateurs do build much grander things? Like spaceships?
A group of friends and I build a sub too.
Much bigger
17.6 meters, 32 tons
Theoretical crush depth 470 meters, but we plan only to dive down to 100 meters.
Its a diesel/electric, and took around 3 years to build.
Its the 3rd sub we build. And the biggest.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hobonerd/2784123565/sizes/l/in/set-72157606395935820/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hobonerd/2784975532/sizes/l/in/set-72157604823470166/
This guy supposedly had only an elementary school education.
Its more a boat with a low waterline, thats sinkable incase they get caught.
And in my book thats not a sub.