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1. KM - Russian "Caspian Sea Monster" Ekranoplan

 

 

A bizarre cross between a hovercraft and an airplane, developed during Cold War 1. KM - Russian "Caspian Sea Monster" Ekranoplan (Images source: The WIG Page and Samolet) SM-8 (smaller version of KM). 2. An Impressive A-90 "Orlyonok" ("Eaglet") "The 140 tonne, 58 meter long aircraft had its maiden flight in 1972. The A-90 boasted two turbojets and It could travel over land, if need be, and in rather spectacular fashion: (images credit: A. Belyaev, The WIG Page) It could carry 150 troops and 2 tanks (or rather, BTR-60), as evidenced by this picture: (image credit: Airforce.ru) 3. Strange intermediate designs: VVA-14M "VVA-14M" ekranoplan was essentially a conversion from the very strange-looking plane "VVA-14". Here it's seen before the conversion: and after, cruising over water: (image credit: Ronald Wong, The WIG Page) 4. "Lun (Spasatel)" (1987) - bigger than KM "Sea Monster" and way more dangerous! "The 280 tonne, 74 metre long M-160 Lun was another ekranoplan developed from Alexeev designs. one was built in 1987, which entered service in 1989." (image courtesy: Paul McDonell) It's actually bigger than Boeing 747! Size comparison: (image credit: Peter C Losi - United States Air Force) (images source: Airwar.ru) Here is the "Spasatel" civilian version: (image source) Another interesting concept which almost made it into production: All these and other variations of Russian ekranoplans you can see in this long video (10 minutes of great & rare footage): That video also shows the current sad condition of Russian giant "Lun" craft, stored at the Kaspiysk n The last "swan song" of Rostislav Alexeev: "Rocket-2" river cruise ship design: (art by A. Sukhov, courtesy rosevg.org) AMERICAN WINGSHIPS Atlantis - 1": Image courtesy: Popular Science Boeing Ultra Pelican - American (belated) answer to the "Caspian Sea Monster" "The vessel will be able to travel in ground-effect at a height of about 20 feet above the water surface for its most economical mode of operation, but will also be capable of entering free-flight and flying at an altitude of 20,000 feet." 출처 Ekranoplans Showcase