Following Phase I, another 3-year R&D program (Phase II of Mega-Float) started from the beginning of FY1998. Since the purpose of the Phase II research is to develop application technology on Mega-Float for practical use such as a floating airport, the main tasks are focused on the construction of a very large floating airport model and flight tests on the model. According to the program, a model was designed, completed and set afloat at a site in Tokyo Bay during the summer of 1999, and flight tests on the model started immediately. This paper outlines the ongoing Phase II research.
"Mega-Float" is the nickname given to a pontoon-type, very large floating structure (VLFS) intended for use in the construction of floating airports, floating container terminals and other floating facilities. Research and development (R&D) of the Mega-Float started from the beginning of FY1995 as a national project in Japan and the goal was set to finish by the end of FY2000. The R & D of Mega-Float has been carried out by the Technological Research Association of Mega-Float (TRAM) and its participating shipbuilding and steel-manufacturing companies. The project are supported financially by the Ministry of Transport (MOT), the Nippon Foundation and participating companies. In the first three years, research called Phase I (FY1995 to FY1997) was carried out mainly on the development of programs to solve the behavior of VLFSs, developing the design technologies, the construction of a 300-meter-long floating model to obtain construction technologies and other necessary investigations such as an environmental assessment, 100-year use method, etc. The next three years, research called Phase II (FY1998 to FY2000) is compromised of planning and construction of a larger 1,000-meterlong floating airport model.