Determination of Aerodynamic and Flight Performance Characteristics of WIG Craft: A Review

Abstract

This paper is focused on discussing available methods for determination of aerodynamic and flight performance characteristics of a wing-in-ground (WIG) craft. The WIG craft, or also known as ekranoplane, is a unique type of vehicle that operates close to the surface of water using the aerodynamic lift generated by its wings. The review presented in this paper covers the overview on current research state of the WIG craft including its history, design principles and also performance parameters. It also discusses the various methods used to evaluate the aerodynamic and flight performance characteristics of a WIG craft such as wind tunnel testing, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and flight testing. The advantages and limitations of each method are explained, as well as challenges associated with accurate prediction of aerodynamic and flight performance characteristics of WIG craft. This study concludes with summary of key findings and future directions for research on WIG craft aerodynamics and flight performance characteristics, unique challenges and opportunities presented by the WIG craft and also the need for continued research to fully understand their capabilities and potential applications.