Houston Community News >> China Develop Water Skimming Plane
7/10/2007 BEIJING (Reuters) -
Chinese scientists have developed a "Wing-In-Ground" (WIG) aircraft which can
fly long distances just a few feet above the sea surface, state media said on
Wednesday.
The plane can fly as low as half a meter (1 ft 7 ins) off the surface, hitting
speeds of up to 300 km (180 miles) per hour and can carry up to 4 tons on
takeoff.
"It's as safe as ships, although five or six times faster," associate professor
Xu Zhengyu, vice-president of the research team at Tongji University in
Shanghai, was quoted as saying.
"And it can carry much more weight than ordinary planes while costing half as
much and using half as much fuel."
Wing In Ground effect refers to the reduction in drag experienced by an aircraft
as it approaches a height approximately twice a wingspan's length off the ground
or other level surface such as the sea.
Xu said the plane could be flown for military use and border control.
Tongji University planned to develop a 50-seat WIG by 2013, with 200 prototypes
capable of carrying 200 to 400 tons scheduled for 2016 or 2017.
"Taking advantage of the aerodynamics of the ground effect, which adds extra
lift when flying at very low altitudes, the aircraft can fly close to the
water's surface," the China Daily said.
"This cuts back at least one third on fuel consumption, compared with standard
planes of the same size, because the plane can benefit from air buoyancy."
The WIG has been listed as one of three types of aircraft given the green light
in the general aviation field by the State Commission of Science Technology and
Industry for National Defense, Xu was quoted as saying.
"However, the Civil Aviation Administration of China has yet to confirm aviation
regulations at such low altitudes, which may become a problem," Xinhua said.
(Contributed by Reuters)