It is designed with a capacity of six passengers and two crews or,
alternatively, 750 kg payload and two crews. The design is based on
earlier AirFish design principles and features a classic Lippisch's
reverse delta wing configuration. Classification of the craft was first
handled by Germanischer Lloyd in the Germany and later by the Lloyd's
Register in Australia. The AirFish-8 provides efficient low cost
transportation at intermediate speeds between that of the typical ocean
going vessel and the conventional aircraft.
The major capital cost
advantage of ground effect vessels over aircraft is their classification
as marine craft. This classification applies to all construction,
registration, operator licensing and maintenance requirements and allows
a lower construction cost as opposed to an aircraft or helicopters
production cost.