VMM... my personal observation/opinion...

WIG is pretty much for flight over relatively calm/stable water or open terrain surfaces [no obstacles]... not oceans or inland seas or bodies of water with embedded obstacles [debris] or hilly terrain, IE: not for turbulent/undulating/contaminated surfaces. A very limited-utility 'flying machine'.

AND because of flight-borne and water-borne operations I suspect that it will likely encounter significant engineering and stiff regulatory challenges for certification and safety requirements.

Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o We believe to be true what we prefer to be true. [Unknown]
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation,Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", Homebuiltairplanes.com forum]

WIG projects pop up with monotonous regularity where I used to live, as we have a large inland bay more or less surrounded by cities. Unfortunately said bay has a large number of ships, yachts, and stationary structures, so zooming around at 2 m above the sea is going to require more care than a regular flight. I don't see why WIGs are promoted as being safe, they are operating constantly in the envelope where 99% of crashes occur - near to the ground.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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It's not the long plunge that kills you... it's the sudden stop at the end

"Schiefgehen wird, was schiefgehen kann" - das Murphygesetz

The problem with WIG's is that they are possible feasible but only at a really large scale. If the Caspian Sea (500 tons) is good for a sea state of 1.2 metres, 10,000 tons might get you to an altitude (25 metres) to make them somewhat practical. The only customer I can think of that can operate, afford and need a large cargo ships worth payload to move @ couple hundred knots is the US Navy & I can't see them building "aircraft" larger than a destroyer.

Welllll......

Hawaiian Airlines Plans To Fly Visitors Between Islands In This New Plane That Barely Gets You Off The Water
Hawaiian Airlines is thinking outside the box when it comes to transporting passengers between islands through the 50th State.
The airline is teaming with Regent to create all-electric seagliders that will transport up to 100 passengers across the water, barely skimming the surface on the journey between islands.
... ...
https://www.travelawaits.com/2765136/hawaiian-airl...

Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o We believe to be true what we prefer to be true. [Unknown]
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation,Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", Homebuiltairplanes.com forum]

Another concept... perhaps more practical... looks like electric power, also.

New X-plane from DARPA aims to revolutionize heavy air lift
DARPA has launched an aircraft project to demonstrate a leap in operational logistics capabilities by designing, building, and flying a long-range, low-cost X-plane capable of seaborne strategic and tactical lift.

The new vehicle concept, called Liberty Lifter, seeks to expand upon existing cargo aircraft by proving revolutionary heavy air lift abilities from the sea.

The envisioned plane will combine fast and flexible strategic lift of very large, heavy loads with the ability to take off/land in water. Its structure will enable both highly controlled flight close to turbulent water surfaces and sustained flight at mid-altitudes. In addition, the plane will be built with a low-cost design and construction philosophy.
... ...

https://www.aero-mag.com/darpa-liberty-lifter-2305...

Regards, Wil Taylor
o Trust - But Verify!
o We believe to be true what we prefer to be true. [Unknown]
o For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible. [variation,Stuart Chase]
o Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant. ["Orion", Homebuiltairplanes.com forum]