The Ground Effect Principle
Flying close to a surface also compresses the air slightly between the wing and the ground, creating what pilots fondly nickname a “ram” or cushion of air beneath the wing. This cushion effect means the wing rides on a pocket of higher-pressure air. Because of this, the aircraft doesn’t need to tilt its nose up as much to stay airborne – in ground effect, a wing can produce the same lift at a lower angle of attack. If you’ve ever felt an airplane “float” longer than expected just before touchdown, that’s ground effect in action: the plane’s wings suddenly become more efficient as they get close to the runway, so the airplane glides along on that cushion of air.
In summary, when a wing is flying in ground effect, a few things happen:
More Lift: The wing gets an extra boost from high-pressure air trapped underneath it (like a cushion), so it can generate the same lift with a smaller angle of attack. The nearer the wing is to the ground, the more pronounced this lift increase becomes.
Less Drag: The proximity of the ground shrinks and weakens the wingtip vortices. With less swirling air robbing energy, induced drag drops dramatically. In fact, within a fraction of the wingspan above ground, the reduction in drag becomes very significant – the wing suddenly “glides” more easily through the air.
In essence, the ground effect gives an aircraft wing better performance for free. It’s as if the airplane has suddenly grown much bigger wings or gained an invisible helping hand from below. This is why a bird skimming low over water or a pilot “hugging the deck” can stay aloft with less effort than at higher altitudes. But how can we make practical use of this phenomenon? Enter the world of ground-effect vehicle
Flying on a cushion of air is exhilarating, but how do you keep such a craft steady and easy to control? German engineer Günther W. Jörg tackled this problem in the 1970s by inventing the Tandem Airfoil Flairboat – a ground-effect vehicle with two wings arranged one behind the other. Jörg recognized that the earlier single-wing ground-effect vehicles were notoriously unstable and hard to handle; pilots could only keep them in ground-effect flight for a short time with maximum concentration before things got dicey. His solution was to use a tandem wing configuration to naturally balance the forces at play, making the craft far more stable and user-friendly.
„For over 50 years, the ground effect waited in the shadows of aviation — powerful, proven, yet overlooked. Today, we bring it to life. Not as a concept, but as a revolution in motion.“
Reiner Jörg, son of Günther Jörg and creator of the TW4 Cargo
Successful Prototype and Scalable Platform
Various Mission Sets
The prototype with a wingspan of approximately 4 meters (TW4 Cargo) has already been built and successfully tested in real-world flight trials. This fully functional demonstration model proves the feasibility of the visionary concept. Despite its compact dimensions, the prototype has already demonstrated impressive performance, carrying payloads of up to 37 kg with operational ranges reaching 60 km. These figures – achieved with a whisper-quiet 8 kW electric drive – underline the remarkable potential of the platform.
At the same time, the drone is built on a modular architecture: fuselage and wings can be adapted to various payload requirements, and the vehicle can be equipped with cameras, sensor arrays or other mission-specific modules. This scalable platform approach enables the development of future variants in different sizes or specializations – without having to reinvent the basic design. The story of the TW4 Cargo demonstrates one thing clearly: this technology is ready for deployment and can now be scaled for industrial production. What began as a bold idea has rapidly evolved into a tangible high-tech product – a solid foundation for further series development and growth.
Versatile Applications: Defense, Security, Research, and Logistics
The ground effect drone is a true multi-mission platform, addressing a wide range of operational needs – a key factor in its strong market potential. Particularly in the military and security sectors, it delivers new capabilities that conventional UAVs simply cannot offer:
Defense & Coastal Protection: This UAV serves as a near-invisible reconnaissance and patrol asset along coastlines, borders, or operational zones. Thanks to its ultra-low signatures, it can also be used in kamikaze missions or as loitering munition, striking high-value targets with precision and surprise, before enemy defenses can respond.
Surveillance & Security: For police forces, border patrol or intelligence services, the drone enables silent and unobtrusive surveillance over land and water. Critical infrastructure and expansive zones (ports, offshore facilities) can be continuously monitored – without drawing attention.
Rescue Operations & Disaster Relief: In humanitarian missions, the drone can operate in dangerous or hard-to-reach areas – for instance, locating shipwreck victims just above the water’s surface or delivering vital supplies after natural disasters. Its ground effect flight enables stable low-altitude missions even in adverse weather, where helicopters or boats may fail.
Science & Logistics: Beyond defense, the platform is highly attractive for civilian use. In environmental research, it enables silent overflight of ecosystems, gathering data on wildlife or habitats without disturbing nature. In logistics, multiple units can form a rapid drone network, transporting spare parts or medical supplies between coastal cities and offshore platforms – faster and more energy-efficient than boats.
This wide range of use cases demonstrates how market-oriented and adaptable the ground effect drone truly is. Unlike specialized drones built for a single purpose, this modular platform can be configured for diverse roles. As a result, it simultaneously addresses multiple high-growth markets – from defense and civil security to next-generation logistics – maximizing its commercial potential.
Unseen | Unmatched | Unstoppable
Unique Concept: Flying in Ground Effect
This groundbreaking drone is the first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to fully harness the ground effect principle — a concept previously seen only in experimental seaplanes. When flying just above a surface (land or water), the drone benefits from significantly enhanced aerodynamics: even at an altitude of only 5% of its wingspan, flight efficiency increases by a factor of 2.3.
The result? Extremely low detectability across all domains. Operating just a few decimeters above the ground or water, the UAV flies below conventional radar coverage — making it visible to enemy sensors only at the last moment. The stealth advantage extends further: equipped with electric propulsion, it produces virtually no engine noise and emits minimal thermal radiation. Even sonar systems are ineffective, as the drone glides contact-free just above the surface.
This unique profile — neither a conventional aircraft, nor a boat, nor a land vehicle — defines an entirely new category of unmanned system. It breaks through existing limitations and opens operational possibilities that traditional drones cannot achieve. Comparable technologies, such as low-flying cruise missiles („sea skimmers“), have already proven how effective ultra-low altitudes are at evading detection.
But until now, no unmanned system in the world has been capable of sustained flight in ground effect. This drone is the first of its kind.
Why Choose Us
Strategic Advantage: European Independence and Technological Leadership
Beyond its technological strength, this project offers a critical additional asset: it is a high-tech innovation made in Germany — and therefore independent of U.S. or Asian technologies. At a time of rising geopolitical tensions, European governments are placing increasing emphasis on technological sovereignty in security-critical systems. Indeed, the EU is currently investing billions to ensure defense readiness and independence in the drone sector.
A ground effect drone developed and manufactured in Germany fits seamlessly into this strategy. It offers European armed forces and government agencies a trusted alternative to U.S. systems (often restricted by export controls) and to Asian models (which raise dependency or cybersecurity concerns). Expertise and value creation remain in Europe — a factor that aligns with political priorities and enhances eligibility for funding and procurement programs.
For investors, this represents access to a strategic and rapidly evolving market where Western nations are actively seeking reliable, homegrown partners. With its unique positioning — as the pioneer of an entirely new DroneTech category built on European engineering — this startup has the potential to become a technology leader.
This ground effect drone is poised not only to disrupt the global drone market, but to help define Europe’s role in the next generation of unmanned systems.
The message to venture capital is clear: this is a truly singular opportunity — a patent-worthy innovation with proven proof-of-concept, exceptional scalability, and global market relevance — ready to lift off and set new standards in the drone industry.
TW4 cargo
Explore the world’s first true ground effect drone in action. From early prototypes to live test flights, our gallery offers a glimpse into the design, innovation, and performance behind the TW4 Cargo. See how engineering meets elegance — just inches above the surface.
About us
TandAIRium – the World’s First Ground Effect Drone StartUp
At TandAIRium, we stand at the intersection of aerodynamics, innovation, and vision. Founded by Reiner Jörg, Dipl.-Ing., Tandairium is the continuation of a pioneering legacy — and a bold leap into the future. As the son of Günther Jörg, the inventor of the original Tandem Airfoil Flairboat, Reiner has not only inherited a groundbreaking concept, but completely reimagined it for the 21st century.
With the development of the TW4 Cargo, Tandairium has launched the world’s first true ground effect drone — a technological breakthrough that redefines what is possible in unmanned flight. Unlike conventional aircraft or hovercraft, our vehicle flies stably and efficiently just above the surface, using the ground effect to achieve unmatched stealth, speed, and payload capacity.
Our mission is clear: to deliver game-changing aerial systems for defense, security, and critical logistics — engineered in Germany, trusted worldwide. At Tandairium, we believe that real innovation doesn’t just improve the present. It reshapes the future.
Seeking Visionary Investment Partners — Be Part of the Future of Flight
At TandAIRium, we are not just building a new kind of drone — we are creating an entirely new category of unmanned systems. Our ground effect drone, the first of its kind, combines stealth, efficiency, and payload capacity in a way that conventional UAVs cannot match. It is a breakthrough platform engineered and developed in Germany, designed to meet the strategic, logistical, and operational needs of tomorrow.
With a successful prototype already tested, a scalable modular architecture in place, and versatile use cases across defense, security, logistics, and science, we stand at the edge of something transformative.
The global drone market is expected to exceed $220 billion by 2034, with defense and logistics leading the way. Tandairium is positioned to capture a unique segment within this expanding space — and we are looking for venture capital partners who share our vision, ambition, and belief in European technological leadership.
If you’re ready to invest in a high-potential frontier technology with clear strategic relevance, we invite you to join us on this journey. Let’s shape the future of unmanned mobility — together.
Our team
Our team combines engineering excellence, visionary thinking, and decades of experience to shape the future of unmanned flight — with passion, precision, and purpose.
Dipl.-Ing. Reiner A. Jörg
CTO and Co-Founder
Guido Steinbach
CFO and Co-Founder
Constantin Gallhöfer
Consultant
Contact us
We’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re looking for more information, a detailed presentation, or would like to schedule a live demonstration of the TW4 cargo, our team is here to connect.
Let’s explore how ground effect technology can shape the future — together.
Reach out to start the conversation, exchange ideas, or arrange a meeting.