RAM Effect Vehicle - A New Type of Aircraft Wing Design?

IG: danielriley_

[reubenjones]

the most engineering thing quote i have ever heard. "thats incredible, it really does exactly what i designed it to do" (7:16)

[Hexalyse]

I've watched the 4 parts and this iteration is clearly the best looking until now. On smooth water, it's really cool to see this vehicle fly barely above the water (idk what the speed was but it looks fast in the video), without creating much wake in the water. Didn't you get questions by people passing by ? I'd definitely stop and ask what this thing is because it looks awesome!

[A-G-F-]

I love that he actually shows us the ducks and geese when theyre nearby.

Theyre boats that are also submarines, that are also planes, that are also ground effect vehicles, that also walk, such amazing birds!

[EidolonandOnly]

4:16 It's Awesome to see the Canadian Air Force along with their young cadets take an interest in your aircraft.

[wartank]

The soviets actually created a ground effect aircraft but it was costly to maintain and it only can fly at calm waters

[LatitudeSky]

The Soviets had their Ekranoplan version decades ago. Back in the 80s, somebody in Florida had developed a small boat/aircraft version big enough to carry several people and had fully flying prototypes. It got media coverage but I never saw it come to market.

[leeharrison]

Looks like a star wars speeder on sand.
Can you try it out on a really flat surface like ice rink or basketball court?

[pesterenan]

This one was your best IMO, it glides so gracefully above the water! I loved the shots with the geese looking over your creation hahaha

[rickmarcotte]

Wing In Ground Effect craft (Often called WIG craft are still in use in some parts of the world. Most are based on the the Soviet era designs, but there are new designs in production and most are design to fly at heights of up to 50% of their wing’s cord width over water and smooth land.

[Xeil]

This is a cool project. The russian Ekranoplan was built in the 1970's and actually very successful as a cold war presence and as a ground effect aircraft. Glad to see people are still playing around with this concept

[AVNwinner]

Waterproofing electronics I found the clear "E-6000" glue works the best and lasts forever. Hope this helps for future builds.

[jenslindahl]

that shot at 11.50 where it just glides for a while with motor off is amazing! So smooth

[JCAtkeson]

It is kind of beautiful when it hovers a half inch above the water. Surprised that it looks more magic than actual flying. Bravo!

[mrarkane]

Good on you for giving it a go! I guess that's why hydrofoils were developed, more efficient lift and thrust through a denser medium and easier feedback control plus the ability to be perched high on rough water.

[mitseraffej]

When my kids were little I would tow them behind a bicycle on the hard low tide sand at the beach sitting atop a ground effect type of sled made out of plywood. Needed a bit of headwind but as soon as it started flying it was almost effortless to tow. The final iteration had a canard type elevator that they would control. Had a few mishaps but with a helmet on they never got hurt, much. It certainly didn’t put them off doing it at any opportunity.

[NicholasRehm]

Alright, so instead of aerodynamically stable in ground effect, how about some sort of built-in mechanical stabilization? I’m envisioning a floaty thing rigidly attached to a linkage that pivots and deflects the elevator control surface so that you’ll get full up elevator when at 0 altitude and full down elevator when above ~1ft out of ground effect. Basically leverage the nature of ground effect with the surface of water available to do work on your system for you

[Glydaire]

Looks great, your video is on point!

I tried a few ram wing designs years ago, but only ever on land. I got one stable with only rudder\throttle control though it was quite sketchy. The basic principle of a ram wing in ground effect with a lifting tail well out of ground effect gives you passive pitch stability, and as long as it stays low it's also self stabilizing in roll. If it does get out of ground effect it's game over, ask me how I know!

I actually strayed away from any power assisted ram effect after some testing, it's just one more variable in already tricky stability. Though you certainly proved it can work if handled carefully.

I've got an idea swirling for a wheeled ground effect craft now.

[kerry]

I get to watch a lot of RC things on youtube with my husband, he has the controller . Yours is the first video I REALLY enjoyed! Thank you 😃

[_Deathlord_]

With a proximity sensor, you can program it to automatically adjust fan speeds so it doesn't get slapped onto the water.

[TriadAgone]

Added effect of the wedge wing is that when you leave ground effect the vortices would create HUGE drag behind the wing as the vortices start to flow into the low pressure area inside the ram.