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The Wikipedia page for Ground-effect vehicle goes into much more detail on how this worked and why we don't have more of them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gr

The Wikipedia page for Ground-effect vehicle goes into much more detail on how this worked and why we don't have more of them: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground-effect_vehicle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground-effect_vehicle TL;DR: While faster and more fuel-efficient than regular ships, they're as complicated and fragile as airplanes. And since they can't fly, they're at risk from waves and colliding into land or other ships. Here's another fascinating prototype: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartini_Beriev_VVA-14 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartini_Beriev_VVA-14

simonebrunozzi 6y ago
> Here's another fascinating prototype: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartini_Beriev_VVA-14 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartini_Beriev_VVA-14 Wow, it looks incredible. Could easily be part of a Star Wars movie or something like that.
- moneytide1 6y ago
  The AirFish is a smaller version of this. The cupped shape of its wings does not appear to have curves, which means it will crease like oragami (welded sheet metal sections?) Since the in-ground effect is limited to a couple dozen feet - this craft is compatible only with the calm waters of a bay/lake/river. Maybe shorelines, but large breaking swells would be rough for the small, personal vessel anyways. That is why it's safe - unleaded gasoline spinning a prop with similar horsepower of a V8 barely suspended above the low friction and cushion of flat water. An error (equipment or operator) would occur at low altitude and the optimum resolution would be to skid-to-a-float (last resort safety measure is to guarantee the nose is up at sufficient angle because the marine body is both landing gear and airbag in a sense). Could the wing sections fold along the creases and temporarily adopt a more aero dynamic configuration in order to "leap" across impediments to a smooth surface? Flat land could also be a surface off of which a fuselage could propel itself via in-ground effect wingspan geometry, in which case "roads" would only need to be relatively flat and straight "lanes" with wingspan accommodation. Impact buffer would be suspension and durable tires (along with similar software interventions - "if impact imminent then nose up to skid instead of tumble") instead of sufficiently deep water and a marine body.
  - moneytide1 6y ago
    So long as the vast locale requiring traversal is barren terrain with no vegetation and a sufficient gaseous atmosphere medium for in-ground-effect air cushion (would not work in vacuum). Depending on the local gravity well strength (variable per hosting body), a V2 engine horsepower equivalent may perform the same amount of work. But would atmospheric pressure at ground level make a difference if we are trying to "ride the cushion" that exists because of sea level atmospheric pressure of the planet in the AirFish YouTube video?
- richardw 6y ago
  And which links to a kinda-recently-planned one: “ If it entered service, it would become the new largest airplane in the world.” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beriev_Be-2500 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beriev_Be-2500
mcv 6y ago
I find myself wondering if those risks couldn't be managed by modern technology. Check the water surface and adjust. Also, I believe altitude above the ground depends on the size of the wings, so with much larger wings, they might be able to fly high enough to clear more obstacles.

simonebrunozzi 6y ago

> Here's another fascinating prototype: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartini_Beriev_VVA-14 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartini_Beriev_VVA-14 Wow, it looks incredible. Could easily be part of a Star Wars movie or something like that.

moneytide1 6y ago
The AirFish is a smaller version of this. The cupped shape of its wings does not appear to have curves, which means it will crease like oragami (welded sheet metal sections?) Since the in-ground effect is limited to a couple dozen feet - this craft is compatible only with the calm waters of a bay/lake/river. Maybe shorelines, but large breaking swells would be rough for the small, personal vessel anyways. That is why it's safe - unleaded gasoline spinning a prop with similar horsepower of a V8 barely suspended above the low friction and cushion of flat water. An error (equipment or operator) would occur at low altitude and the optimum resolution would be to skid-to-a-float (last resort safety measure is to guarantee the nose is up at sufficient angle because the marine body is both landing gear and airbag in a sense). Could the wing sections fold along the creases and temporarily adopt a more aero dynamic configuration in order to "leap" across impediments to a smooth surface? Flat land could also be a surface off of which a fuselage could propel itself via in-ground effect wingspan geometry, in which case "roads" would only need to be relatively flat and straight "lanes" with wingspan accommodation. Impact buffer would be suspension and durable tires (along with similar software interventions - "if impact imminent then nose up to skid instead of tumble") instead of sufficiently deep water and a marine body.
- moneytide1 6y ago
  So long as the vast locale requiring traversal is barren terrain with no vegetation and a sufficient gaseous atmosphere medium for in-ground-effect air cushion (would not work in vacuum). Depending on the local gravity well strength (variable per hosting body), a V2 engine horsepower equivalent may perform the same amount of work. But would atmospheric pressure at ground level make a difference if we are trying to "ride the cushion" that exists because of sea level atmospheric pressure of the planet in the AirFish YouTube video?
richardw 6y ago
And which links to a kinda-recently-planned one: “ If it entered service, it would become the new largest airplane in the world.” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beriev_Be-2500 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beriev_Be-2500

mcv 6y ago

I find myself wondering if those risks couldn't be managed by modern technology. Check the water surface and adjust. Also, I believe altitude above the ground depends on the size of the wings, so with much larger wings, they might be able to fly high enough to clear more obstacles.