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Copyright © 2010 by B. Kohler
All rights reserved
Why use WIG-craft's
Wing in
ground effect crafts skim very low over the surface. Typical at a
height of 10 % of there wing span. At this height the aerodynamic drag
is almost diminished. Due to the pressure increase under the wing at
this low height about 80 % more lift is generated compared to a wing
out of ground effect.
This double effect makes wing in ground effect craft extreme efficient
vehicles. Because of this the use about 50 % less fuel in relation to
an aircraft. No very fast ship can match the speed of a big WIG-craft (
about 210 miles per hour). WIG-craft settle between aircraft's and very
fast ships. Depending on the type of WIG-craft, the can use normal
harbor facilities. For medium distances the can match the overall
traveling time of air transport. WIG-crafts are no aircraft's and
can be certified as boats. Actual, our Skimmer 2 is provisional
certified as boat.
In the U.S.A., Amphistar's XTREME XPLORER is classified as boat by the
USCG. Universal hovercrafts UH 18 as well. The tandem WIG-craft from
Mr. Joerg in Germany has the same classification. The Hoverwing from
Fischer Flugmechanik has a provisional permit in the
Netherlands. The VOLGA 2 is also classified as boat in Russia. In general permits are granted to all crafts.
Through the classification as boats no aircraft engines or other
aircraft materials have to be used, which makes them less cost
intensive.
They can be driven with a boat license. Attention, for professional use observe national requirements.
. CERTIFICATION
The IMO recognizes three classes of WIG-craft
Type A
WIG-crafts who can not operate out of ground effect.
Type B
These crafts can jump to clear an obstacles by converting kinetic
energy into potential energy (height). But the cannot
maintain flight over a long time without the support of ground effect.
ECONOMY
- Consumes 50% less as an aircraft and <
about only 15 % of a fast boat.
- Low maintenance costs.
- Short amortization time.
GENERAL
- Cruising speed 120 km/h to 400 km/h ( scale factor )
- No sea sickness.
- No air sickness.
- Easy to handle .
SAFETY
- Crafts are auto stable.
- In case of engine failure the vehicle settles slowly down on the surface.
- Unsinkable
ECOLOGY
- Low fuel consumption = low air pollutiion.
- No water contamination. Closed circuit water or air cooled engines.
- Almost no waves. No damage to vegetation when used on rivers, no
damage to the underwater world ( air prop./ jet drive ).
Low noise
Type C
Type C crafts are in principle an aircraft's with the ability to
operate safe in ground effect.
These crafts have to be certified as aircraft's
