Wingships (WIG, Wing In Ground) utilise water as runways to reach their lift-off speed, which is determined by the wing loading. High wing loadings are desirable for high cruising speeds with inherent height- and longitudinal stability. To build up the necessary dynamic air pressure under the wings, they need roughly 3 times more power to overcome the hydrodynamic humpdrag compared to the drag during ground effect flight. Contrary to aircraft, WIGs cannot utilise the installed power to increase the cruising speed without the loss of efficiency and natural height stability. So it is necessary to develop suitable devices as lift-off-aids in order to reduce the recommended lift-off power. Investigations had been done with an air cushion on the X-113 craft and hydrofoils on the X-114 craft, produced by the author's company. With support of the German Ministry for Education, Science, Research and Technology (BMBF) Fischer-Flugmechanik (FF) has developed the 'Hoverwing-Technology' in order to further reduce the necessary lift-off power. The principle of this technology, for which FF has patent rights, is the building up of static air pressure between the catamaran floats. After lift-off the dynamic pressure will replace the static pressure and the craft operates as a WIG with high lift to drag ratios. FF is developing the 'Hoverwing 80', with the target to transport 80 passengers at 100 kts. Some test results with a scaled down two Seater will be demonstrated by video extracts.
The hoverwing technology bridge between WIG and ACV
Die Schwebeflügeltechnik - Brücke zwischen Tragflächenboot und Luftkissenfahrzeug
1997
11 Seiten, 12 Bilder
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
The Hoverwing Technology - Bridge Between WIG and ACV
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2002
|British Library Conference Proceedings | 1998
|Technische Entwicklung von Bodeneffektfahrzeugen, Phase 3 - Hoverwing . Abschlußbericht
HENRY – Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau (BAW) | 2000
|TIBKAT | 2000
|