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.
. 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.
Type C
Type C crafts
are in principe an aircraft's with the ability to
operate safe in ground effect.
These crafts have to be certified as aircraft's
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.
The can be
driven with a boat license. Attention, for professional
use observe national requirements.
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