Wing-in-ground effect (WIG) vehicles are disclosed herein. Hovercraft takeoff and landing modes are disclosed herein. Uses of WIG vehicles, including for maritime monitoring, are disclosed herein.

A craft comprises at least one hull; at least one wing configured to generate upwards aero lift as air flows past the at least one wing to facilitate wing-borne flight of the craft; a front hydrofoil connected to the at least one hull via a front hydrofoil strut and configured to generate upward hydrofoil lift as water flows past the front hydrofoil to facilitate hydrofoil-borne movement of the craft through the water; a rear hydrofoil connected to the at least one hull via a rear hydrofoil strut and configured to generate upward hydrofoil lift as water flows past the rear hydrofoil to facilitate hydrofoil-borne movement of the craft through the water; and a control system. While the craft is hydrofoil-borne, the control system is configured to facilitate transition of the craft from hydrofoil-borne operation to wing-borne operation via a process comprising: while the upwards aero lift generated by the at least one wing is below a threshold lift, controlling one or both of the front hydrofoil and the rear hydrofoil to generate a downward hydrofoil lift that causes the front hydrofoil and the rear hydrofoil to remain at least partially submerged in the water; and after the upwards aero lift generated by the at least one wing has increased above the threshold lift, transitioning the craft from hydrofoil-borne operation to wing-borne operation at least in part by controlling one or both of the front hydrofoil and the rear hydrofoil to switch from (a) generating the downward hydrofoil lift to (b) generating an upward hydrofoil lift that pushes the craft up and out of the water.

An air supported vessel comprising a basically V-shaped hull with a starboard keel part and a port keel part and with a V-shaped bow, which includes an outer bow support surface, where the basically V-shaped hull has at least one air cushion chamber in a substantial part of the basically V-shaped hull's length below the waterline, and where the air supported chamber is delimited by an air supported chamber ceiling, air supported chamber starboard and port side walls and with at least one aft closing device with an aft threshold that forms an aft delimitation of the air supported chamber and with at least an air supported chamber air intake which, together with the side wall of the air supported chamber in the bow, forms the front delimitation of the air supported chamber.

An air supported vessel comprising a basically V-shaped hull with a starboard keel part and a port keel part and with a V-shaped bow, which includes an outer bow support surface, where the basically V-shaped hull has at least one air cushion chamber in a substantial part of the basically V-shaped hull's length below the waterline, and where the air supported chamber is delimited by an air supported chamber ceiling, air supported chamber starboard and port side walls and with at least one aft closing device with an aft threshold that forms an aft delimitation of the air supported chamber and with at least an air supported chamber air intake which, together with the side wall of the air supported chamber in the bow, forms the front delimitation of the air supported chamber.

Wing-in-ground effect (WIG) vehicles are disclosed herein. Hovercraft takeoff and landing modes are disclosed herein. Uses of WIG vehicles, including for maritime monitoring, are disclosed herein.

Airfoils and vehicles incorporating the same are disclosed herein. The airfoils include an upper surface and a lower surface. Each airfoil is configured for operative connection to an airframe via the upper surface of the airfoil. Each airfoil includes a channel extending from the upper surface to the lower surface of the airfoil. Each channel is configured for fluidic communication with one or more blowers.