The Super Falcon was designed by Graham Hawkes, a former civilian ocean engineer who used to fix underwater vehicles being used by the British Special Forces in the 1960s. Later, he started designing submersible vehicles for both the oil industry and those in the scientific research sectors. His designs have also been used in Hollywood filming. One of his earlier submersibles was featured in the James Bond Movie For Your Eyes Only. Another was used in producer James Cameron's Aliens of the deep.

DeepFlight Super Falcon is the fourth generation winged submersible built by Hawkes Ocean Technologies. It is a new class of high performance, positively buoyant, luxury sport submersible. Its patented winged design gives the craft unprecedented speed, range and agility, transforming the elevator experience of conventional submersible dives to an exhilarating, no-holds-barred flight through blue space. Already branded the "Ferrari of the Seas", the first Super Falcon was delivered in 2008 to venture capitalist, Tom Perkins, for his yacht, the S/Y Maltese Falcon.[citation needed]

In 2005, Hawkes and adventurer Steve Fossett teamed up to create a submarine that could be piloted by an individual to the deepest parts of the ocean. This spot in the Pacific Ocean, called Challenger Deep, is approximately 36,201 feet (11,034 m) under the ocean's surface and is thought to be the deepest point in the ocean. Together they began to develop the Challenger submersible with this goal in mind. However, in 2007 Fossett had experienced a fatal accident over the deserts of Nevada before the feat could be attempted.

The first test flight of the Super Falcon was conducted by Lee Behel, a former military fighter jet pilot. The test ran into a few problems including getting the submersible stuck in a kelp bed, which had to be cut free with the help of a safety diver. Other initial problems included a broken prop and rudder while performing vertical dives and 90 degree rolls.

Super Falcon benefits from our forty years of experience in building over sixty deep submersibles, and has 24% less frontal area than its prototype and 32% less volume — weighing a little over half the weight of conventional 2-seat submersibles. With its light weight, small footprint, and ease of operation/maintenance, DeepFlight Super Falcon is ideally suited for operation from super yachts or shorebase.[citation needed]

Importantly for private owners, Hawkes Ocean Technologies has always held human comfort to be inseparable from safety. The advanced Super Falcon pressure hull has more room where needed for elbows and shoulders and uses a relaxed seating position, with ideal 360 degree viewing. Designed with safety in mind, the Super Falcon craft are built and tested to equal or higher safety standards as mandated by ABS, and can be certified as required. Additionally, unlike all conventional submersibles which use ballast to get heavy and sink, DeepFlight Super Falcon is positively buoyant — with auto return to the surface — providing unparalleled safety for its owner/operator.[citation needed]

The standard configuration is 2-person in-line, but the craft can be custom-built in 3 or 4-person versions (in-line or side-by side), and can be re-configured to fit various deck spaces/garages. The front cockpit is typically the primary pilot position; but both cockpits have a full set of controls, so that the craft can be flown from either position. Super Falcon is equipped with highly advanced piloting, navigational and life support electronics, including a heads-up combined graphics navigation, fly-by-wire (fingertip) controls and flight display—a first for privately-owned submersibles. Another first is the navigation module which includes an on-board computerized track plot that enables the pilot to mark way points and will guide the sub back to its launch point.[citation needed]

The Super Falcon is classified as a high performance winged submersible with a numerical design designation of DF 302. With its wings deployed, it measures 3 m (9.8 ft) wide x 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in) x 6.7 m (22 ft) long. The width is reduced to 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) with the side wings folded.

Powered by batteries, the Super Falcon's cruise speed is between 2–6 knots (3.7–11 km/h; 2.3–6.9 mph). It can produce a maximum thrust of 508 lb (230 kg). The maximum rate at which it can make a descent is 200 ft/min and the maximum rate at which it can ascend is 400 ft/min. It can operate at a depth of 1,000 fsw with a payload of 230 kg (510 lb), or 2 persons. It has a launch weight of 1,818 kg (4,010 lb). The current cost to purchase the submersible is US$1.5 million.