Wing in Ground Effect Craft Review,

Abstract

It has long been recognised that flight close to a boundary surface is more aerodynamically efficient than flight in the freestream. This has led to the design and construction of craft specifically intended to operate close to the ground and fly in ground effect. A great range of Wing in Ground effect Craft (WIGs) have been manufactured ranging from 2 seat recreational vehicles to 500 tonne warcraft. Despite this WIGs have never enjoyed great commercial or mIlitary success. The Maritime Platform Division of DSTO commissioned The Sir Lawrence Wackeft Centre for Aerospace Design Technology to conduct a design review of WIG craft This review considers all elements of WIG design and operation, including performance, limitations, control, stability, operational requirements, regulation, manufacture and technological risk. The review highlights the research required to overcome the weaknesses of WIG craft, the advantages that they may offer and the possible uses of WIG craft in the Australian military.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA361836

Entities

People

  • Michael Holloran
  • Sean O'meara

Organizations

  • Defence Science and Technology Group

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerodynamic Characteristics
  • Aerodynamic Configurations
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Amphibious Operations
  • Engineers
  • Ground Effect Machines
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Hydrofoils
  • Military Applications
  • Naval Architecture
  • Pressure Distribution
  • Surface Effect Ships
  • Surface Effect Vehicles
  • Test And Evaluation

Readers

  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites