ground effect craft aka ekranoplan: ship or aircraft?

On Feb 14, 10:02 am, "mad8" wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_effect_vehicle

it's flying, but it doesn't seem like it's an aircraft in the
strictest sence... would something like this be equivalent to a
seaplane or more of a hovercraft?
opinions?


Legally, an aircraft is "a device that is used or intended to be used
for flight in the air." Source: the FARs, as published in Title 14,
chapter 1, subchapter a, section 1.1 of CFR, available from http://
http://www.faa.gov/regulations_polic...a_regulations/

The legal definition doesn't require it to be able to get out of
ground effect, so I'd say those things probably fall under the FAA's
legal jurisdiction, at least if they're flown in the USA.

But my gut logical feel says that if it doesn't have an altimeter, and
if a barometric altimeter could serve no reasonable purpose related to
control or navigation, then it shouldn't be considered an aircraft.