Another effort at airplanes that fly at sea-level and this in the shape of a two-metre prototype from Sail'n'Fly, an outfit in France that comprises naval and aeronautical expertise among its founding fathers. We wish them Godspeed as previous attempts at this sort of thing have invariably led to a crash that wiped out the build and took the investors and cash with it.
Regent in the US too has experienced crashes, but of the sort less likely nowadays to dent the confidence of inventors and investors. The difference is threefold, being (a) the world is awash with capital looking for a home (b) electric motors are wholly more user-friendly for prototyping and (c) processing power allows aircraft to draw on artificial means to stabilise flight just above the surface to maximum effect.
As good a description as any of the state of the ground-effect nation appears on the Regent website, and drafted by its CEO...
...and what he points out is that until now there have been three principal types of WIG or wing-in-ground-effect. The crux of his argument is that as aircraft approach the surface the downwash flattens out and reduces the effectiveness of the tailplane so that the nose drives into the ground, or water. Efforts to ameliorate this so as to fly in ground-effect unperturbed included a very long tail (at left) as exemplified by the Soviets, at the expense of a deal of extra weight.
The next (at centre) includes a wing optimised for flight near the sea, though this is of those types that keep catching a wing-tip and crashing: GAME OVER.
The third (at right) was pioneered by Flarecraft but like hydroplanes only worked at all well on rivers or inland waters and thus died a death ~ though is being electrified as are so many others as I write and you, dear reader, read.
Billy, not to be confused with an IKEA bookcase, says the problem with these wings is that they are so inefficient as to neutralise the efficiency gains of flight in ground-effect. I'd argue that is only half the point, the other being to avoid the deadening touch of the regulators... which like that of the reaper leads to instant death.
He goes on to write how Regent have effectively invented a fourth means of flight in ground-effect, viz. a conventional aerodynamic wing of great efficiency with a way of computerising its flight at a safe remove, from which it will still benefit from gains expected of WIGs. If you're a financial analyst, put that in your PowerPoint and bow to my effigy later.
You and I, dear reader, might add a fifth and historic means of stabilising flight by watercraft (moreso than 'aircraft') above the surface with our own dear cat, if only we could get out of our pyjamas of a morning.
Hold that thought, and fetch yourself another croissant.
