WIG -CRAFT FLIGHT CONTROL ABOVE THE WAVED SEA

The problem of Wing-in-Ground effect affective use in WIG-craft flight by minimization of the average geometrical altitude of flight above sea waves is analysed in the paper. Two concepts of vehicle motion in longitudinal plane are compared. It is shown that the best control law lies between rigid stabilization of average altitude and full freedom in action the self-stabilisation property of WIG-craft. It is proved that only large WIG-craft could provide the essential fuel saving in controlled flying close to the disturbed surface. For small WIG-craft fuel saving against the plane mode of flight is not essential. The modern means of automatic control permit to realize any perfect dynamic features of piloted or autonomous vehicle, and it is important to select the best concept of flight control before developing the control laws for the certain vehicle.