Technical data

• Manufactor: Rodriquez Cantieri Navali SpA, Messina, Italy
• Type: PT 20
• Year: 1957
• Yard building no: 52
• Engine: 12 cyl. four stroke MTU 12 V 493 driving a single propeller
• Power: 1.100 hp continuous (max. 1.350 hp)
• Length: 20,75 m
• Width over foils: 7,386 m
• Beam max.: 5,06 m
• Draught hullborne: 2,86 m
• Draught foilborne: 1,35 m
• Displacement loaded: 28 t
• Disposable load: 8,4 t
• Cruising speed: 30 kt
• Range: 250 nm
• Passengers: 70
• Crew: 4

Extra Equipment

• Underwater hatch
• Smokescreen
• 50 ft. cocoon with
  • Anti-aircraft cannon
  • 2 machineguns
  • Heavy armour plating
  • Smokescreen

Notes

This spectacular yacht is owned by SPECTRE and is used by Emilio Largo, SPECTRE's no 2, as part of his disguise and to transport the stolen atomic bombs. When attacked by Navy vessels, the yacht parts in two. After separation the cocoon then revealed its secondary function as a weapon platform and armour-plated battlestation. Equipped with an anti-aircraft cannon and machineguns it tried to cover the escape of the hydrofoil.

The PT 20 hydrofoil is the worlds first ever commercial hydrofoil, and went into regular passenger service in 1956. It was first used on the route Messina - Reggio Calabria, and the route was driven by the company Società Aliscafi partly owned by Rodriquez. The type PT 20 stands for "pesa tonnellate 20" - i.e. weighing twenty tonnes. Similar models has been build on license by yards in Japan and Norway.

Rodriquez has build a total of 46 PT 20's in the period 1956 to 1971. The hydrofoilsystem used for the PT 20 is licenced from the Swiss company Supramar.

The boat used in 'Thunderball' is the second hydrofoil build by Rodriquez and its original name is 'Flying Fish'. It was modified by 3M Shipyard in Miami Yard and equipped with a 50 ft cocoon, a katamaran, which could be separated from the hydrofoil. The boat costed $10.000, but the total including the cocoon and modifications was arround $500.000. Several large scale models was build for filming.

For the final blow-up was used experimental rocket fuel. The explotion was so powerfull that it broke windows in Nassau's Bay Street 30 miles away, and sent the boat skyhigh.

We have tried to track the current location of the 'Flying Fish' and the cocoon. But our conclusion of all the information we have gathered is the boat has been scrapped somewhere in the 80's. During our search we got a lot of interesting stories and sightings. And we would like to thank you all very much for sharing your information with us. The following is the information we gathered.

The cocoon was used a houseboat in Griffin Mariner, Daina Florida, and was sold in 1974 by Gary W. to Marvin Taylor. Thanks to Gary W. for contacting us.
The boat was sold after the filming as stated in an advertise in Miami Herald (see the advertise at the website of International Hydrofoil Society).

An observation in the early 1980's. It was resting for years next to the Chalk's Ocean Airways airbridge facility on Watson island in Miami Florida--between the Miami seaport and South Beach.
A confirmation names Watson Island as the location.
1983: Spottet on blocks at the Port Everglades container storage area in Fort Lauderdale. Condition was very poor, it might be bound for the scrap yard.
The International Hydrofoil Society has no trace of her.
A sistership is located somewhere in the Philipines.
Rodriques has no records of her.

"It's a long time ago, but still a fascinating memory:
I was sightseeing at the Miamarina in the early 80's, and came across a very decrepit Disco Volante. I asked for permission to come aboard, and it was granted.

A young German identified himself as the owner and he gave me a full tour. He was so proud of his boat, even though the hydrofoils were totally overgrown and the hull was badly covered in barnacles. The owner had been an engineer for Mercedes, and showed me the single Mercedes diesel engine that powered the boat. The engine was HUGE, but I don’t remember what he said the power rating was. The turbo was huge, easily the biggest I have ever seen. The turbocharger was at least 16” across. Odd to see a single engine on a boat like that.

The control center did indeed look like an aircraft, including the sloped glass. The controls looks more like an airliner than a boat, with dozens of gauges and switches.

It was apparently more than the owner could handle financially, as it sank at the dock and was raised and sold as scrap. Very sad, as it was truly a beautiful, and technologically very advanced vehicle. At the time I saw it, restoration would have been possible but extremely expensive."

Special thanks to Rodriquez Cantieri Navali SpA, Messina for their kind cooperation and for supplying the specifications.

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