Simple premise, hard execution....ground unit that 'flies'?

Ok, my basic idea is to make a flying machine/gyrocoptor that cant really FLY, it just hovers over the ground, and can cross water like the naga etc do...the problem is, when i remove the movement type 'flying', it clings to the ground like a magnet...how can i fix this? :(

So basically you're saying you want a flying unit without the flying movement type?

That makes no sense.

Yes, basicly...the idea is this unit is a PROTOTYPE flying machine, that hovers over the ground and can cross rivers and whatnot, but is not capable of actually FLYING and crossing trees and mountains. changing its movement type to anything but flying lowers it so its flat against the ground...i dont want it as high as a normal FM, but I dont want it THAT low. I don't want a full-fledged flyer because this is for an RPG-ish map.

i think there is a trigger to change the hight of flying unit but im not sure what its called but i know there is one somewhere somebody can tell u hope this helps

Make it a hover unit. You won't be able to change it's flying height in game though -- only in the unit editor.

Can hover units cross water like the naga etc? I want this thing to be able to scout over rivers, for instance, that the main hero can't get to.

What you want is an amphibious unit with a flying height. I don't think there's any built in easy way to do this. Your only option is probably a very elaborate trigger workaround. If it didn't have to go over deep water a hover unit would work (ground units and hover units can walk through shallow water).

you could also make it a flying unit and just restrict its movement using 'air movement blocker doodads' ... although this will block all other air units

I suggest keeping it as a flyer, make it targeted as a ground unit and just have its flight hight at something small like 2

Use "amphibious" movement type and edit the model so that it appears above the ground.