Water scooping apparatus for an aircraft and an aircraft comprising the same

A water scooping apparatus for an aircraft, comprising:

• an extendible tubular member having a first end and an opposite end, wherein the first end is pivotally attachable to an aircraft, the extendible tubular member being substantially retracted when the water scooping device is in an inactive state and being arranged to extend downwards from the aircraft at an angle when the water scooping device is in an active state;
• a duct that is arranged to fluidly connect a water tank to the extendible tubular member at its first end;
• a water scooping unit that is fluidly connected to the opposite end of the extendible tubular member, the water scooping unit being provided with an intake opening that is in fluidic communication with the extendible tubular member and that is arranged at a side of the water scooping unit that faces away from the sky when the water scooping apparatus is in the active state, the water scooping unit being provided with a plurality of surface-piercing hydrofoils, characterized in that the surface-piercing hydrofoils of said plurality of surface-piercing hydrofoils being arranged surrounding the intake opening in such a way that as seen in a direction parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the water scooping unit a first pair of surface-piercing hydrofoils is arranged upstream of the intake opening and a second pair of surface-piercing hydrofoils is arranged downstream of the intake opening, the surface-piercing hydrofoils of each of the first pair of surface-piercing hydrofoils and the second pair of surface-piercing hydrofoils being configured to generate an upward force when being moved through a body of water when the water scooping apparatus is in the active state to position the water scooping unit with respect to a surface of the body of water in such a way to ensure water intake via the intake opening.