It's a perfectly valid question as to whether or not Wing Ship Technology Corp.'s WSH - 500 is actually a plane or a boat. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) classes the transport vehicle as a boat because it glides over water about 1-5 meters above the sea. Yet, the first passengers in the WSH-500, which is under construction and expected to be completed in October 2010, will indeed be flying. The WSH-500 transports up to 50 passengers, up to a speed of 185 kilometers per hour, across seas.
Wingship Technology's WSH-500 model on display at IASP 2010 in Daejeon.
The project began in 1994 and was commercialized. The company established in Nov. 2007 in order to manufacture mid-large size commercial WIG craft. The project is now under construction and buyers for the first craft are being spoken to. The company also reported that, "Everybody wants the second craft. The prototyping of WSH-500 will trigger commercialization of the WIG craft."
True green transport, the WSH-500 can assist with cutting emissions by taking advantage of natural drag reductions in a limited space above seas. Additionally, the WSH-500 does not require a pilot's license nor additional infrastructure such as an airport to be used because it is internationally classified as a sea vehicle by the IMO.
Wing Ship Technology Corp. expects that testing on the first craft will take up to six months after which they intend to produce a second version of the craft, refined with the testing improvements. The craft is expected to be available for commercial use in April 2011. The short testing phase and production date are welcome news to the many whom have expressed buying interest. Wing Ship Technology Corp. exhibited at the Daedeok Innopolis in Daejeon for the IASP (International Association of Science Parks) conference and exhibition combination. The company exhibited until 26th May 2010 at the event.
More information about Wingship Technology is available here: http://www.wingship.com/eng/wig/index.html#Anchor2
