What a fun toy.
Several years ago there was a TV show that talked about Ground Effects aircraft that the Soviets built.
I believe that they were jet powered.
SAM
Sam..
The big one was an Ekranoplan, effect well known since early WW1, early '20s. Soviets first to actually exploit the effect seriously I think.
Once had a book about evolution of Seaplanes, with the huge sponsons they had, it was a problem to get them to land on water. Novice pilots panicked, shut off the power, and ran out of Surface Effect and lift at the same time. Often fatally. There has been a wildlife programme about Pelicans flying for a very long distance above the surf, not a wing flap to be seen ..
Might like to turn the audio off before you poke this link
Dave BC