Ground Effect

Pilots discovered that when they flew at low altitude the aerodynamics of their craft altered. The aeroplanes ‘lift’ increased and the amount of power required for flight decreased. They found that this phenomenon is proportional to the size of the wings of the aircraft, its speed and its proximity to the ground. The reason is quite simple. As the aeroplane flew lower to the ground the air under the wings became ‘compressed’ where in normal high level flight it would not. The resulting ‘cushion’ of air provided extra lift and the aircraft itself could travel more efficiently i.e. faster for the same amount of power or, conversely, at the same speed using less fuel.
There now seem to be a multitude of different designs of such vehicles such as the enormous Russian built military craft to individual pleasure craft. Many such vehicles are not capable of flight in the sense of a normal aircraft, but are specifically and uniquely to take advantage of extreme low level flight. Such craft require a relatively smooth surface, usually water, on which to function.
‘The Chip Shop’ envisages a time when such vehicles are not alternatives, but essential. The economies and environmental conditions make the economy of such craft essential and the atmospheric conditions make high level flight hazardous. The ‘airports’ have become ‘seaports’ and the largest of these is the Brean ‘seaport’ near Bristol from where Danl travels to America.