Ground Effect Flight Transit (GEFT) – Approaches to Design

Preliminary digital prototypes of ground-effect aircraft using a hovercraft-like cavities are able to achieve lift-drag ratio (L/D) efficiencies in excess of 60, which is 4X typical airliners. Preferred speeds are 90 to 300 mph. The highest efficiencies are possible when flying with low clearance to the ground, as is practical with ground-effect flight over railway tracks and highways. Similar efficiencies are attainable over water with larger aircraft. This paper evaluates surrogate airfoil models (i.e., flat plate and simple cambers) toward better understanding how to design ground-effect aircraft suitable for a wide range of applications at L/D efficiencies in excess of 50. Three physical principles identify how to generate lift forces, and three additional principles form the basis for ground-effect aircraft design. Greater than 200% increases in efficiencies are possible in many applications versus the best available alternatives, enabling major strides in: a) zero-carbon emission transit, b) increased transit reliability, c) increased safety, d) low-cost rapid implementation, e) reduced annualized infrastructure costs, and f) reduced transit congestion.