In the thick of the Cold War, the Soviet Union built an immense vessel to carry their troops across the seas and into Western Europe.
Equipped with nuclear warheads and able to blast across the sea at 340 mph, the Lun-class Ekranoplane; part plane, part boat, and part hovercraft — is a Ground Effect Vehicle (GEV).
A GEV takes advantage of an aeronautical effect that allows it to lift off with an immense amount of weight, but limits its flight to 16 feet above the waves. Its altitude can never be greater than the length of the wings.
Think of a large seabird, like a pelican, cruising inches from the water and not needing to flap its wings.
The only complete Ekranoplane now sits on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
While there is talk of refitting the Lun-class and getting the GEV back in the fleet, it's now rusting away, and was spotted by aviation blogger Igor113 who posted these pictures to his blog.
Source
The Ekranoplane
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The Ekranoplane
- Tribble
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Re: The Ekranoplane
Amazing it got off the ground
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Re: The Ekranoplane
Well done one being behind the times Business Insider, and getting the name wrong
http://www.retronaut.co/2011/09/abandoned-ekranoplan/
Also, watch the first part of this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9tElz3yqCI
http://www.retronaut.co/2011/09/abandoned-ekranoplan/
Also, watch the first part of this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9tElz3yqCI
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Re: The Ekranoplane
Yeah because moving massive tonnage at 340pmh 16ft above sea level is a fine idea...
There's a reason the ruskies scrapped this one.
There's a reason the ruskies scrapped this one.
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Re: The Ekranoplane
Moving anything at high speed is always a good idea. Having a camera there when it crashes is even better.
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Member of the Barberton Tigers