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Ground Effect Train

A train with short, stubby wings designed to fly just off the ground.
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So I have this idea about a train designed to run at high speed, and at a height only a few inches off the ground. Basically it is a GEV (Ground Effect Vehicle) like an ekranoplan, but designed to run as an articulated train at speeds through a courseway.

Ground effect is described as flight just off the ground, made possible by the cushion of air created during the interaction of wing and ground.

It's travelling line needs to be as straight as possible with very few bends and either bridging valleys or tunnelling through hills, just like the japanese shinkansen.

One of the notorious problems with GEVs is their inability to steer well, being very much like a hovercraft. A courseway or maybe a tether would make this easier? Maybe the courseway could look like a half-pipe, and the stubby wings on the train curl up to fit it?

Sitzmark_Angel, Jul 14 2010

[marked-for-deletion] baked http://en.wikipedia...Ground_effect_train
[FlyingToaster, Jul 14 2010]

[link]






       Hi, Welcome to the HalfBakery: bingo every Monday and meatloaf on Fridays.   

       Might want to Google for your idea, as well as Searching the HB, before posting. <link>
FlyingToaster, Jul 14 2010
  

       // meatloaf on Fridays //   

       I am having meatloaf for Wednesday breakfast as I read. How old is this stuff?
baconbrain, Jul 14 2010
  

       try not to miss the confetti making class!
xandram, Jul 14 2010
  

       ...It was a ruddy good idea though.   

       You’ve been lucky so far, but I'd watch out for some of the more surly inmates around here, they can be a bit apoplexic about these things.
Custardguts, Jul 14 2010
  

       // How old is this stuff? //   

       Depends on which time zone you're in.   

       Best not to ask.   

       // apoplexic //   

       Sp. "apoplectic".   

       // apoplectic //   

       Sp. "21Quest", "FlyingToaster", and the rest ...
8th of 7, Jul 14 2010
  

       Is it really spelt "apoplectic"? I thought the condition was apoplexy.... Bloody english language, you must have it easy, speaking in binary, or whatever it is...
Custardguts, Jul 14 2010
  

       I disagree about this being baked. The wing-train is still in development, if at all.   

       But yeah, there is precedent. Which just shows it is a valid idea.   

       Welcome, [Sitz].
baconbrain, Jul 14 2010
  
      
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