A ship? A plane? Nop, a WISE!

[AA 1818]

Uber cool video, thanks to YouTube.com.



What do you guys think? Cool? Many applications? Could it be adapted to be used by many? Could it be fuel efficent?

[SYDCBRWOD]

The Russians have been working on these machines for years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_effect_vehicle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-90_Orlyonok

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beriev_Be-2500

Americans have too with a proposal for cargo aircraft - basically a rectangular box with large cranked wings and 6 huge turboprops. The aim was a 500 tonne payload (?) over intercontinental distances - the majority of the travel was to be in WIG mode.

[Alessandro]

No hopers, I doubt itīll never become reality.

[SYDCBRWOD]

No hopers, I doubt itīll never become reality.

Depends when the next fuel crisis hits and how bad it is. These WIG aircraft are very efficient for their size.

[Alessandro]

Depends when the next fuel crisis hits and how bad it is. These WIG aircraft are very efficient for their size.

Well, I love to see them become reality, but even if theyīre efficent fueleconomy they have limitations due to current infrastructure, like the CV-880 was fast but the ATC at the time didnīt allow them to fly that fast at large parts of the world.
I rather dream of an Be-210 with ARG (Anti Rolling Gyro) and RAT (Ram Air Turbine).