About WIG Craft...

WIG's are advanced hybrid air cushion craft offering the highest possible combination of speed, fuel efficiency, and ride smoothness. Unlike it's close cousin the hovercraft, a WIG rides above the surface like an airplane on a dynamic air cushion that is produced by the craft's forward motion. In contrast, a hovercraft rides on a captured air bubble (CAB) that is produced by a mechanical blower---usually in the form of a fan or cyntrifugal compressor. The Hovercraft's air cushion is held captive by an inflated skirt that surrounds the barge-like hull of the craft. The speed and efficiency of a WIG's can be considerably higher than those of hovercraft because they have no power lost to a blower and no bulging skirt to force through the air or drag over the waves.

WIG's share technologies with several other types of air and marine vehicles. The hydrodynamics of the main hull are similar to those of high performance powerboats, seaplane floats, or flying boat hulls. The hydrodynamics of the sponsons or wing endplates are similar to catamaran hulls or hydroplane sponsons. The flow of ram air under the wing is similar to that under tunnel hull racing boats. In the areas of propulsion, and operation on the water, WIG's are similar to hovercraft and airboats. The flight performance, stability, and control of WIG's are similar to aircraft. The design of a safe and practical WIG craft depends directly on the understanding and successful orchestration of all of these technical elements.

For additional information on WIG design requirements review our Requirements page.

Over the past several years "The WIG Page", originally a University of Delft, Netherlands site created by Edwin van Opstal became the defacto crossroads of WIG information in cyberspace. An updated version of this site is currently maintained at ...
The WIG Page (http://www.se-technology.com/wig/)

Material on this website is copyrighted ©2000 by C.P.Nelson, Seair Craft Inc.