WATER SCOOPING APPARATUS FOR AN AIRCRAFT AND AN AIRCRAFT COMPRISING THE SAME

摘要

The invention relates to a water scooping apparatus (2) for an aircraft, comprising a water scooping unit (7) that is associated with a water tank (10) via an extendible tubular member (5), the water scooping unit being provided with an intake opening (20) that is in fluidic communication with the extendible tubular member and arranged at a side of the water scooping unit facing away from the sky when the water scooping apparatus is in an active state, the water scooping unit being provided with a plurality of surface-piercing hydrofoils (25, 26, 27, 28) arranged surrounding the intake opening and configured to generate an upward force when being moved through a body of water to position the water scooping unit with respect to a surface (9) of the body of water in such a way to ensure water intake via the intake opening. The invention also relates to an aircraft (1) comprising said water scooping apparatus and to a method for filling at least one water tank of said aircraft.