The Privateer™
The Privateer™ is a groundbreaking amphibious aircraft designed with the goal of setting a new standard for safety and performance in water-based aviation. Engineered with a low center of gravity and innovative hull design, the Privateer™ offers unmatched stability and ease of operation on both land and water.
The Privateer™ is a revolutionary new amphibian being developed by John A. Meekins, an entrepreneur whose dream is to improve the standards of safety of water-based aircraft.
In addition to being an Industrial Real Estate developer, Pilot, Entrepreneur and Inventor, John Meekins wanted to purchase a seaplane that he could safely use to carry his family and friends to and from his waterfront property. After test flying several seaplanes, John decided they each had their own safety or performance issues. John wanted to have a proof of concept prototype built but needed to find someone to build it.
John came across Bill Husa, a retired Boeing Configuration and Structures Engineer who was looking to build a custom aircraft. After a 2-hour conference call with Bill, John was so impressed that he retained Bill for the prototype.
Bill and John worked together to design Privateer™, resulting in the amphibian aircraft you see today.
The innovative design of the Privateer™ was developed to be the safest design possible for water and land operations. The configuration is characterized by a low center of gravity, thus reducing the chance of flipping over in adverse conditions. Privateer™ has a unique hull layout that will provide unparalleled ease of operation during water-borne take-off and landings.
As the Privateer™ prototype is nearing completion, we are confident that the aircraft will meet or exceed design goals.
Updates from the President
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February 23, 2023
With retractable water rudders now installed, water maneuverability trials completed.
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August 14, 2022
After approximately 14 years of effort, the PRIVATEER™ amphibian, a six to seven passenger aircraft, has been completed and is prepared to finalize flight testing (currently 27.5 hours).The PRIVATEER™ was designed and built by retired Boeing engineer Bill Husa, with hulls designed by Robert Gornstein, a Hydrostatics Engineer having prior experience with the first Hawaii…
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March 30, 2020
The PRIVATEER™ amphibian was designed by Boeing engineer Bill Husa and marine engineer Robert Gornstein (Both deceased). Bill worked on the US Space Shuttle landing gear, among other high-level projects. Robert worked to develop the first high-speed ferry used in Hawaii and designed the hulls for the PRIVATEER™. PRIVATEER™ was built by Bill Husa at…
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January 22, 2020
It has been a while and much has happened to relate.Kudos to Jim Janicki, Vice President of Quality at LAUNCH Technical Workforce Solutions, for arranging an airworthiness certificate which has allowed us to get 27.5 hours of flight time for Privateer™. I should note that Privateer™ has performed better than expected in a number of…
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March 26, 2019
In preparation for water testing of Privateer™ to be held at Leesburg Airport (LEE), Rob has “singled-up” the landing gear so that we can retract the gear into the hulls.During the first week of March, the aircraft was making a final test of gear retraction at Melbourne (MLB) when an unexpected crosswind gust made for…
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December 6, 2018
Privateer™ amphibian has been moved from Space Coast Regional Airport (TIX) to Melbourne International Airport (MLB) after having achieved its first flight on August 6, 2018.Privateer™ will remain at Melbourne while completing water landings and testing. We will use the new ramp recently installed at Leesburg International Airport, (LEE) to access the water. The ramp…
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October 19, 2018
Rob Lueck, President of Top Flight Services, and Harvey Cleveland, Test Pilot, have proven to be the “A-Team” in the development of the Privateer™ Amphibian.After ten years of effort in both Seattle, WA, and Titusville, FL, Privateer™ completed its first flight on August 6, 2018.Privateer™ is now both the safest and fastest modern amphibian.Harvey has…