If ground effect are so much more efficient why aren’t we using them for flights, from Europe to the US for example?
In: Engineering
The “ground” (ocean surface) doesn’t stay sufficiently level when the ocean starts to get large swells. Ground effect depends on a reasonably consistent distance between the lifting surface and the ground below, and as soon as that changes, efficiency goes way down. It can also get dangerous, with tops of waves hitting the airfoil.
It’s more practical on lakes, but there’s not enough benefit on shorter hops.
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