HIGH SPEED MERCHANT SHIP CONCEPTS

THIS PROPOSAL OUTLINES AN APPROACH TO BRING TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY A TECHNOLOGY AND CONCEPT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT VESSELS CAPABLE OF TRANSITING THE OCEANS AT OR ABOVE 300-400 KNOTS AND INITIALLY DISPLACING 1000 TO 5000TONS. WHILE THE SPEEDS WILL REMAIN SUBSONIC, THESE VESSELS ARE NOT PHYSICALLY BOUND, AND COULD GROW TO APPROXIMATE SHIPDIMENSIONS AND DISPLACEMENTS, DEPENDING ON MISSION. THE WINGSHIP (SOVIET EKRANOPLAN/WIG) OPERATIONALLY AND ECONOMICALLY SITS ASTRIDE THE PRESENT DAY SHIP AND SUBSONIC AIRPLANE. THE MILITARY BENEFIT IS ESPECIALLY ENHANCED BY THE CRAFT'S NATURAL LOW DRAFT (10 FEET OR LESS) AND LOW OBSERVABLE FEATURES; THE WINGSHIP PROVIDES A MEANS TO CARRY SIGNIFICANT PAYLOADS WITHOUT AT THE SAME TIME BECOMING A HIGH PRIORITY PRIMARY TARGET. COMMERCIALLY, IN CONTRAST TO THE HYPERSONIC TRANSPORT, THE WINGSHIP OFFERS LOW FARE MASS TRANSIT TO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.