Wing-in-ground-effect Alaska commuter service
Jack Linthicum
Item in October-November 2004 Smithsonian Air and Space Magazine (p.
13) says the FS8 Dragon Commuter is powered by a Chevrolet engine. !
The FS8 site is at http://foxxaero.homestead.com/indwig_001.html and
http://www.se-technology.com/wig/html/main.php?open=showind&code=0&ind=17
Partial item from cite:
About Us
Pioneering Wing in Ground Effect (WIG) marine transportation, Pacific
Seaflight is poised to bring the first scheduled WIG marine service in
the United States to Alaska's Inside Passage.
Created in July of 2003 specifically to introduce WIG transportation
to Alaska, Pacific Seaflight is currently preparing to begin scheduled
service in Fall 2004, with two craft operating out of Juneau, and two
more craft scheduled to begin service out of Ketchikan in 2006.
Service to begin Fall 2004
Juneau - Haines / 55 minutes / 4 trips per day
Juneau - Skagway / 60 minutes / 4 trips per day
Juneau - Hoonah / 33 minutes / 5 trips per day
Using WIG craft, Pacific Seaflight will be able to offer a marine
transportation option which is almost as fast as existing commuter air
carriers, with about a 30% savings to the consumer.
With no road access between communities, passenger travel in Alaska's
Inside Passage has traditionally been restricted to local air carriers
and the Alaska Marine Highway System (AHMS). Air carriers are
expensive and extremely susceptible to weather cancellations, while
the AMHS is a slow transportation option and departs at inconsistent
hours of the day or night. All traditional transportation options
suffer from inconvenient locations; the airport is nine miles from
Juneau, and the ferry terminal is 15 miles north of Juneau.
Pacific Seaflight offers the only fast, economical transportation
option for the Inside Passage. The ride is uniquely turbulent-free and
will appeal to anyone who may be susceptible to air or sea sickness.
The convenience of departing from the downtown Juneau waterfront
eliminates the inconvenient commute to the airport or ferry terminal.
WIG travel is turbulent free, environmentally friendly, and more
dependable than traditional commuter air services.
Pacific Seaflight was created and is managed by Linus Romey, a long
time resident of the Inside Passage. He brings extensive experience in
the maintenance and operation of both the marine and aviation
industries as well as managing several highly successful teams.
Read more about Wing in Ground effect technology.