[tcrlaf]

"Jet turbines are terribly inefficient at sea level." That's part of the beauty of these things, they require a lot less energy to move the payload than an airplane does. Some of the new generation experimental WIG's are quite interesting.

[steve86]

They utilize ground effect which is aerodynamically efficient but the jet engines are no where near their optimal rarefied environment. Jet transports at altitude cruise are highly fuel efficient per unit distance traveled. It is the climb that is costly.