Ships and aircrafts have a range of 926km

Singaporean company ST Engineering announced the first orders for Airfish-8, a hybrid vehicle using wing-to-ground effect that will enter service in 2025.

AirFish 8 operates above water. (Photo: Wigetworks/Peluga).

AirFish 8 (AF8) is a wing-to-ground (Wig) vehicle , designed to be operated by two people, able to carry 8 passengers or one ton of cargo, New Atlas reported on February 28. Airfish 8 is 17 meters long, 15 meters wide, has a speed three times faster than most ships and is 2.3 times more efficient than airplanes. The vehicle has a range of 926km and requires no special infrastructure, promising to revolutionize travel between thousands of islands in Indonesia, the Philippines, Polynesia and the Caribbean.

After leaving the port, AirFish 8 will accelerate to takeoff speed, fly up and stay 0.6 - 0.7 m above the water surface, taking advantage of the air cushion (created from aerodynamic lift due to the ground between the vehicle and the water surface) to move at low altitude and maintain a speed of 167 km/h. The ground effect created by an aircraft wing near a fixed surface increases lift and reduces aerodynamic drag. Not only is it much faster than ships, the vehicle also provides a more comfortable journey in rough seas. Although not as fast as a seaplane, the AirFish 8 is more efficient and easier to fly.

The AF8 is powered by a 500-horsepower, 7-liter V8 racing engine that runs on unleaded gasoline, which is cheaper than aviation fuel. As a surface vehicle, the Airfish 8 does not require a runway for takeoff and landing. The small bow design allows the construction of berths in shallow waters near the shore. This feature makes the Airfish 8 an ideal vehicle to reach places that conventional aircraft and ships cannot reach. If the machine suddenly malfunctions, the Airfish 8 can immediately land on the water below.

ST Engineering has partnered with Peluca, formerly Wigetworks, to commercialize the Airfish 8 under the name ST Engineering AirX. Their first order comes from Eurasia Mobility Solutions, where the Airfish 8 will be used to transport tourists and private passengers around Turkey. The handover process will take place in 2025.