2007-12-03 19:09:12 · 4 answers · asked by Yao 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Increase speed and passenger/cargo capacity and reduce cost of operations.
That can be applied to anything from a trolley car to a jumbo jet. Which means of transport were you asking about?
2007-12-03 20:50:30 · answer #1 · answered by Warren D 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Aviation, as any other mean of transport, is a compromise between lift and drag. Lift is what limits the weight that can be carried and drag limits what power is needed to transport the goods. In other words, the best means of transport, from a camel to a B-747, is its lift to drag ratio. The winner is the WIG (wing-in-ground) craft that flies only a few feet over the water using the ground effect to move fast with little power. The former Soviet experimented with that kind of craft and I believe that there is such a ferry-plane-boat still going on a lake of China.
The problem with a WIG craft is that, flying so low, it is a danger for the maritime traffic and no one wants to take the responsibility. The IMO (International Maritime Organization) says that it is not a vessel, and ICAO says that is is not an aircraft.
Its future would be possible if the sea was controlled as our airspace and no vessel were to enter the path of such a craft. Look at the link here under. Quite a craft able to carry several cars and passengers at the speed of 210 knots a few feet over the water. But I wouldn't like to be a small fishing vessel on its path!
2007-12-04 07:19:27 · answer #2 · answered by Michel Verheughe 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Great Improver is looking into it.
2007-12-04 01:33:14 · answer #3 · answered by aviophage 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A little bit at a time
2007-12-04 00:24:03 · answer #4 · answered by shufly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋