Vintage Aviation News

DECEMBER 26, 2024

” After briefly entering the ground effect, F-106A 58-0787 mad an unpiloted, wheels-up landing in a frozen wheatfield outside Big Sandy, Montana. At that point, the third pilot in the air, Major James Jim Lowe, called out to Foust over the radio, “Gary, youd better get back in it.”

Pitot Tube

Professional Pilot

JULY 7, 2025

We can load 4 people, have full fuel, and sit there and hover out of ground effect at 70%.” “Because it has full authority digital engine control (FADEC), it’s hard to overspeed or overtorque. Its power is a game-changer. The Bell 505s were first added to the fleet in 2022, replacing Bell 206s.

Pilot

The Aviationist

JULY 11, 2025

Notably in the same week that a Chinese ekranoplan design emerged, DARPA announced the cancellation of its Liberty Lifter ground effect seaplane program. First reported by Aviation Week on Jul. 7, 2025, then corroborated by Defense News on Jul.9,

Ground Effect

Air Facts

MARCH 17, 2025

No stone was left unturned The first Air Progress from 1938; the set included every issue ever published.

Pilot

Aerotime

JULY 7, 2025

Photographs taken from afar show a mysterious vehicle with a design that suggests it may be some sort of wing-in-ground vehicle, also known as “ekranoplan”, after the first designs of this type produced in the Soviet Union. Ground effect Aircraft or Seaplane ?

Ground Effect

The Aviationist

JULY 6, 2025

A new ekranoplan, or ground-effect vehicle, design emerging from China was first noted earlier this week. Now a new image offers our first look at the whole airframe.

Ground Effect

Aerotime

JULY 17, 2025

Ground-in-wing vehicles (also called ground-effect-vehicles) use a physical phenomenon that enhances the aerodynamic performance of craft flying at very low altitude over bodies of water. RELATED Is China working on a wing-in-ground vehicle?

Ground Effect

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 2, 2024

It’s not magic—it’s ground effect. When you’re flying near the ground, within one wingspan, the aerodynamic forces start to change. Ground effect is a phenomenon that every pilot must master. Key Takeaways Ground effect increases an aircraft’s lift and decreases drag. You feel in control.

Ground Effect

Simple Flying

OCTOBER 12, 2024

Blended-wing aircraft are not the only revolutionary military transport design currently in the works; the DARPA is working on a ground-effect vehicle (ekranoplan) called the Liberty Lifter , which would burr the distinction between a ship and an aircraft.

Ground Effect

Flight Training Central

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

What is ground effect? Ground effect is most likely to result in which problem? Floating caused by the phenomenon of ground effect will be most realized during an approach to land when at less than the length of the wingspan above the surface. Becoming airborne before reaching recommended takeoff speed.

Density Altitude

Simple Flying

JUNE 7, 2024

Ekranoplans (or ground-effect vehicles (GEVs)) are among the most interesting vehicles and combine a boat with a seaplane. DARPA is working to develop an ekranoplan called the Liberty Lifter with a payload capacity similar to the C-17 Globemaster.

Ground Effect

Simple Flying

JUNE 21, 2024

Ekranoplans, or as they are also forgettably known, ground effect vehicles (GEV), were a major area of study and development during the Soviet Union. It has long been understood that if some formidable engineering challenges can be overcome, ekranoplans could be revolutionary in hybrid sea/airborne transportation.

Ground Effect

Flight Training Central

MAY 6, 2024

Short field landings can be shorter because the drag robbing ground effect is lessened by the greater distance between the wing and ground. High wing aircraft are inherently stable as the center of mass is located beneath the center of lift (compare hanging from a rope as compared to sitting on one).

Drag

Flight Training Central

DECEMBER 4, 2023

This allows the airspeed to slowly dissipate while the airplane is flown just above the surface in ground effect. When the wheels first touch the ground, the proper technique allows the wings to continue supporting much of the weight of the airplane.

Approach

Chess In the Air

JULY 24, 2022

However, perhaps the safest response for everyone involved would have been the following: Rather than trying to climb with the tow plane, I should have stayed in ground effect while communicating the request for a greater airspeed. Staying in ground effect protects the glider from a stall because of lower induced drag.

Knot

Flight Training Central

MARCH 29, 2024

What is likely to occur if you lift off the runway before reaching rotation speed due to ground effect? Aileron down on the upwind wing Aileron up on the upwind wing Aileron up on the downwind wing Correct! Inability to climb Increase in stability Decrease in thrust required to maintain flight Correct!

Aileron

Fear of Landing

MAY 3, 2024

Once stable in ground effect, the pilot shut down EPU1 (left-side outboard) to simulate the performance in the case of an engine failure. Additional team members monitored the aircraft status and were able to quickly speak to the pilot as needed. G-EVTL lifted off with all EPUs operating.

Descent

Simple Flying

MAY 16, 2024

Ekranoplans are a sort of mix of an aircraft and a hovercraft using ground effect to fly or skim a few meters above the ground (normally the water). It is sometimes assumed that the Soviets just copied Western aircraft design (such as with the Tupolev Tu-4 - a B-29 copy) and were always playing catch-up.

Ground Effect

Pilot Institute

MARCH 26, 2024

Hold this extra power as you enter ground effect. Low-wing aircraft perform better in ground effect because of the wing’s proximity to the ground. Once you enter ground effect, too much speed will cause the aircraft to float or balloon. It is the safest and smartest decision.

NOTAMs

Air Facts

MARCH 26, 2025

Time seemed to freeze as I floated in ground effect. Just before touching down, I checked my airspeed and the pit in my stomach deepened: 85 knots far above the 172s normal landing speed of 65 knots. Then it was all over in a matter of seconds.

Knot

All Plane

MARCH 16, 2024

Southwest Airlines is joining Regent’s Hawaii Seaglider Initiative, which is looking at the requirements and conditions to use ground-effect vehicles in inter-island coastal operations. Aciturri , a Spanish maker of aerostructures is investing in Dovetail , an Australian startup with Spanish founders.

Ground Effect

AV Web

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

Regent Viceroy The Coast Guard has approved crewed testing of the wing-in-ground-effect Regent Viceroy seaglider and the company is anticipating a speedy trip to certification. The Russians have been dabbling in ground-effect aircraft (or boats) for decades and have made some huge examples.

Ground Effect

Pilot Institute

MARCH 29, 2024

You’ll have to accelerate to V x while staying within ground effect. When you’re proficient, you’ll confidently maintain altitude a few feet off the ground while accelerating from slow flight. Your improved judgment of airspeed and altitude will help you make a controlled approach.

Lift

Aerotime

MAY 12, 2024

Growing geopolitical tensions along the Pacific Ocean rim have prompted a renewed interest by the US military in seaplanes and ground-effect vehicles to support amphibious and seaborne operations.

Ground Effect

Aviation News

JULY 11, 2025

Aviation News – July 11, 2025 – U.S aerospace companies Aurora Flight Sciences and General Atomics (GA) have been instructed to halt development of their.

Ground Effect

Flying Magazine

APRIL 26, 2024

It will serve almost exclusively coastal regions and use existing dock infrastructure, flying 20 to 30 feet above the water using ground effect. Viceroy is designed to combine the speed of an aircraft (cruising at 180 mph or 156 knots) with the functionality and low operating cost of a boat.

Ground Effect

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

An incomplete summary description of FASF is whether the airplane made it out of ground effect. That phenomenon is best named Failure to Achieve Sustained Flight (FASF). This is more theoretical than practical for visual AOA, but can affect some proposals such as a general aviation stick shaker.

General Aviation

CockPit Conversation

JANUARY 30, 2023

Was he really going to tell me how hard it was to pull that Beaver off the water and then get enough speed in ground effect to clear the trees? He talked about the wind, and the conditions and the geography. I was in suspense. Was he going to tell me how many Gs he pulled to avoid the hills, and how he recovered from the ensuing stall?

Ground Effect

Photographic Logbook

JANUARY 25, 2025

A Deflating Experience On short final, I clicked off the autopilot and brought Warrior 481 into ground effect, pulling the yoke back until she settled softly to the runway. In total, I logged about 0.1 hours in actual instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The moment we started rolling, I could tell that something was wrong.

Runway

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

It is important to maintain the extra speed until I get into ground effect where the risk of descending into a sudden tail wind no longer exists. I should have never been below 80 kts in the pattern. This also includes the last portion on short final. Final Thoughts Writing this article has been difficult.

Pilot

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 3, 2024

Resist pulling back, instead letting it accelerate in ground effect (or should we say water effect) for a few seconds. When the nose begins to tuck that’s your cue you’re climbing onto the step, so measure off the back pressure to make sure you don’t porpoise, then flatten the pitch to accelerate. The plane will fly itself off.

Airplanes

Photographic Logbook

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

ORA does not fly their pioneer era aircraft above the treetops, but the Pusher climbed out of ground effect and flew along the runway before setting back to the turf at the far end. 1911 Curtiss Pusher Model D (reproduction). After the flight, the pilot gave a demonstration of the Pusher's decidedly non-conventional controls.

Airplanes

Aerotime

JULY 14, 2025

The Talay is a maritime kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which is designed to skim the surface of water at high speeds and very low altitudes by using the physical principle known as “ground effect”. First pioneered by the Soviets during the Cold War, ground-effect vehicles are experiencing a renaissance.

Ground Effect