Wing-in-ground effect vehicles and uses thereof

A vehicle having a hovercraft mode and a flight mode, the vehicle comprising:

• at least an aerodynamically-modifiable airfoil comprising:
• an upper surface;
• a lower surface;
• at least one channel extending from the upper surface to the lower surface for introducing fluid underneath the lower surface of the airfoil;
• and
• a moveable flap configured to capture fluid introduced through the at least one channel when the moveable flap is deployed, thereby generating a cushion of fluid underneath the lower surface of the airfoil and providing a hovercraft mode for the vehicle, and the moveable flap configured to avoid generating the cushion of fluid underneath the lower surface of the airfoil when the moveable flap is undeployed, thereby providing a flight mode for the vehicle, wherein each airfoil includes a selectively openable vent located in the upper surface of the airfoil and rearward of an upper orifice of the channel and wherein the vent is in fluidic communication with the channel, whereby when the vent is in an open position, fluid provided by the one or more blowers into the channels exits at least partially through the vent and over the upper surface of the airfoil and thereby generates lift for the vehicle.

A method of hovering a vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing at least an aerodynamically modifiable airfoil, wherein the at least an airfoil comprises:
• an upper surface;
• a lower surface;
• at least one channel extending from the upper surface to the lower surface for introducing fluid underneath the lower surface of the airfoil;
• and
• a moveable flap configured to capture fluid introduced through the at least one channel when the moveable flap is deployed, thereby generating a cushion of fluid underneath the lower surface of the airfoil and providing a hovercraft mode for the vehicle, and the moveable flap configured to avoid generating the cushion of fluid underneath the lower surface of the airfoil when the moveable flap is undeployed, thereby providing a flight mode for the vehicle, wherein each airfoil of the at least an airfoil further comprising a nozzle extending downward from the lower surface of the airfoil in fluidic communication with the channel of the airfoil;
• and
• blowing a fluid through a channel extending from an upper surface to a lower surface of an airfoil with sufficient volume and pressure to lift the vehicle off of a surface.