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A promising innovative design concept is wing-in-groun d effect (WIG) where aircraft performance is increased significantly by drag reduction due to ground effect. This paper presents the results of preliminary design studies of large WIG transports utilizing a power-augmented ram system for lift enhancement developed by the David W. Taylor Naval Ship Research and Development Center. These studies include spanloader and fuselage loader designs and cover gross weights up to 1.9 million Ib and payloads up to 661, 500 Ib. Comparison of performance and economics are made among the WIG and several conventional design transport concepts.
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Lange et al. (1980) studied this question.
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