Bikiteoplan

Heavily inspired by the linked idea.

As has been pointed out, a pedal-powered ekranoplan is likely to be easier on the legs than a pedal-powered aircraft. The ekranoplan (or ground effect vehicle) is basically a plane designed for skimming flight a short distance above the ground. It benefits greatly from the cushion of air beneath its broad wings, just as a regular aircraft will tend to "float" as it makes its final approach.

But.

A pedal-powered ekranoplan still has to be propelled by a propellor, which is considerably less efficient than conventional wheeled propulsion.

So.

Maxco Aviation's Bikiteoplan combines the best elements of a kite, a bike and an ekranoplan.

At rest, the Bikiteoplan looks like your common-or- garden pedal-powered ekranoplan - a recumbent bike (as described in the linked idea which I am plagiarising) with a pair of broad, short wings.

However, there is no propellor.

Instead, the rider pedals furiously, propelling the whole geweirmul in a conventional bicycle-like manner, via the back wheel.

Once a respectable speed is attained, however, the wings achieve sufficient lift, and the rider and wings ascend a couple of metres into the air.

However, the wheels themselves remain on the ground. The rider and the wings are coupled to the wheeled bogey by a flexible sheathed steel cable (like those used on car speedometers), which cunningly transmits the torque produced by the pedals to the wheeled bogey. The bogey itself is weighted to ensure that it remains in firm contact with the ground.

The rider thus proceeds, kite-wise, following the wheeled bogey. I won't bother to go into the technicalities of steering, since they are so obvious as to shirley require no explanation.