Craft Can Carry Four Tons, Travels Less Than Two Feet Above Water's Surface

Chinese state media announced Wednesday scientists have developed an aircraft that skims water surfaces, travels long distances at high speeds and is capable of carrying huge payloads.

Referred to as a "Wing In Ground" (WIG) aircraft, the aircraft can reportedly fly as low as one foot, seven inches above the surface of the sea and can attain speeds of up to 180 miles per hour. It is rumored to be capable of carrying over four tons.

WIG effect refers to drag reduction experienced by an aircraft as it approaches an altitude approximately twice a wingspan's length off a surface, according to Reuters. Such aircraft are not new -- Russia, in particular, has experimented with the technology for several years, including the so-called "Caspian Sea Monster" of the late-1980s, shown above.

"It's as safe as ships, although five or six times faster," said Xu Zhengyu, vice president of the research team at Tongji University in Shanghai. "And it can carry much more weight than ordinary planes while costing half as much and using half as much fuel."

The WIG is reportedly one of only three types of aircraft approved by the State Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense in the general aviation field, said Xu.

"However, the Civil Aviation Administration of China has yet to confirm aviation regulations at such low altitudes, which may become a problem," said the Xinhua news agency.

Xu said the plane has potential for military and border control applications.

The China Daily said, "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."

"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 newspaper added.

Tongji University has planned to develop a 50-seat WIG by 2013, with 200 prototypes capable of carrying 200 to 400 metric tons scheduled for 2016 or 2017.

FMI: www.tongji.edu.cn/english, www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/regulations/wig/wig.htm