Principles and systems of heavy WIG-craft flight control

Wing-iii-Ground Effect vehicle (WIG-craft) or Ekranoplane as it is called in Russia could take the significant part of the projected air traffic growth. After the seventies-eighties when the first generation of heavy Ekranoplanes was developed under the order of Russian Navy, the numerous changes appeared in the concepts of WIG-craft design and application. The modem means of motion control automation has become applicable. The aim of such technologies development is to improve the operational performance of the vehicles of advanced design. The primary sensors and measuring systems for operation at low altitudes were designed to increase the accuracy of control and to provide the fault-tolerance properties. Methods of stability provision and solving other problems of WIG flight by means of automatic control are analyzed1. The criteria and methods for control systems improving for large ekranoplanes are given. The experience and achievements in this field of high technology are described.