One for the flight fans

[AledJ]

I wonder what the MPG is ...

It flies?

It was designed to only hover over the water as it was intended as low flying attack plane.

http://www.vincelewis.net/ekranoplan.html

[Trash Man]

Did they not show this on Top Gear a couple of series back? They also had a working one on there, James May was having ago at piloting it if I remember correctly.

[Andeh13]

Ah! A Caspian Sea Monster. Incredible photos. Like the earlier posters, I too really wished this programme wasn't scrapped - it looked full of potential.

I hate to remind you....but they were the enemy! Lets not be too hasty wishing they were better just yet


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground_effect_vehicle

[0iD]

Would make a nifty houseboat

[Zak33]

gentleman and ladies.. this thing was being watched by US satelite for many years.. it was in dry docks... and it was looking like a plane.. and then one day...

all hell broke loose in the US because.... it had turned around in that day's satelite photo!

In fact.. that meant it had been for a "flight"

it has, as already stated, been desinged to drag monster amounts of troops of land vehivles across seas and under radar... and it has enough engine power to drag itself along a motorway.. ripping up the tarmac as it goes in huge trench's.

Don't be sad it's not in production.... we'd be VERY scared all along the eat coast of the UK if that thing were ready to come over on a booze cruise!

[Zak33]

this is the big one.. the LUN

http://www.satellite-sightseer.com/i...ffect_Vehicle_

[MadduckUK]

it has, as already stated, been desinged to drag monster amounts of troops of land vehivles across seas and under radar... and it has enough engine power to drag itself along a motorway.. ripping up the tarmac as it goes in huge trench's.

Don't be sad it's not in production.... we'd be VERY scared all along the eat coast of the UK if that thing were ready to come over on a booze cruise!

sounds like something that should have been in C&C Red Alert to be honest

[Powderhound]

The version in the OP was actually designed as a cruise missile carrier, hence all the launch tubes along the top.

EDIT: OK, the link above says it was also a troop carrier. My bad.

[Knoxville]

Did they not show this on Top Gear a couple of series back? They also had a working one on there, James May was having ago at piloting it if I remember correctly.

James May Takes An Ekranoplan For A Spin

[MaddAussie]

That's some serious piece of kit! Imagine the noise it would make ! Its a shame its a rusting hulk, well done Ivan!

[Tumble]

this is the big one.. the LUN

http://www.satellite-sightseer.com/i...ffect_Vehicle_

Looks like the same one to me Zakky - missile tubes along the spine of the thing are a dead giveaway, and you can see all the radomes going up the tail... Big bugger though aint he?

[Million]

This would've been a great addition to red alert! Seems odd they couldn't have just put it back in a hanger at least

[aidanjt]

8 Russian turbojet engines and the aerodynamics of a brick? That just means half of its mass would be fuel.

[Flibb]

8 Russian turbojet engines and the aerodynamics of a brick? That just means half of its mass would be fuel.

Err no, actuallt totally the opposit. The idea behind ground effect vehicles is that you get an decrease in drag by being near a surface, so you get the speed of an aircraft, with greater fuel efficiency, or teh ability to carry heavy payloads. The reason the large ones have so many engines is that they are required to get it in to gground effect mode (sitting just above the water), once at cruise most of the engines could be shut down.

[jim]

The version in the OP was actually designed as a cruise missile carrier, hence all the launch tubes along the top.

EDIT: OK, the link above says it was also a troop carrier. My bad.

You're right, that was the other idea - get in close to enemy shores, launch missiles, then scoot back. All undetected, and far too fast to be caught up by conventional methods.

[nichomach]

Nice closeups of it; I remember reading about the potential of ground effect planes in (I think) Battle when I was a kid. That said, it does look like they let an 8 year old loose on the design - "OK, it needs lots gun turrets, an'...an'...missile launchers...yeah....six of em..."