Tango01  | 27 Jan 2014 9:39 p.m. PST |
"A bizarre cross between a hovercraft and an airplane, developed during the Cold War They hover and skim above the water at speeds of up to 250 miles an hour, while carrying heavier loads of cargo and troops than any airplane could – the Ekranoplans, or "Wing-in-Ground" (WIG) vehicles are possibly the most exciting and strange-looking transportation technology ever invented by men. Developed mostly by the Soviets during the Cold War (by the Rostislav Alexeev design firm), some ekranoplans were over 500 feet in length and had the estimated weight of over 500 tons! And yet they skimmed over the waves with grace, at high speeds, able to negotiate stormy conditions, and unseen by the radar – all thanks to the aerodynamic principle known as the "ground effect"…"
Much more here( 1st part)
link and here (2nd part)
link Hope you enjoy!. Amicalement
Armand |
| WCTFreak | 27 Jan 2014 11:18 p.m. PST |
Wow did not know about that, thanks ! |
| Tango01 | 27 Jan 2014 11:26 p.m. PST |
Happy for that my friend!. (smile). Amicalement
Armand |
| BigNickR | 27 Jan 2014 11:39 p.m. PST |
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| Guthroth | 28 Jan 2014 12:06 a.m. PST |
There is still at least one of these monsters visible on its slipway on Googleearth. Any search including google earth ekranoplan will bring up links of some sort, but for a direct image search - Russia, Dagestan, Kaspiysk, and then check out the harbour |
| Zargon | 28 Jan 2014 12:18 a.m. PST |
WOW, would this be cheaper than normal travel I'm wondering. Just incredible what Russian design studios made happen during this period. Thanks Armand |
| Weezer | 28 Jan 2014 12:26 a.m. PST |
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| Klebert L Hall | 28 Jan 2014 7:58 a.m. PST |
If only I were a supervillain; I would have a fleet of these things. I have always loved Ekranoplans.
-Kle. |
| jpattern2 | 28 Jan 2014 8:08 a.m. PST |
Same here, Kle, ever since I first read about them about 40 years ago in a Janes book. |
| Tango01 | 28 Jan 2014 10:19 a.m. PST |
Glad you enjoyed them boys.
I think they are great for Pulp Planes (smile).
Mr. Weezer, congrats for your first post here.
Amicalement
Armand
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| Patrick Sexton | 28 Jan 2014 10:43 a.m. PST |
Well, if we (the all inclusive 'we') are only allowed to post once on any given subject, this site (and all others because I presume the same rule would apply to them) would become a ghost town very quickly. |
| Lion in the Stars | 28 Jan 2014 11:06 a.m. PST |
Those things are highly cool. If I ever have time to sit down and play with Sketchup or some other 3d program, I'd like to build a few scifi versions of those, in the 'flying tank' idea. |
 Legion 4 | 28 Jan 2014 3:33 p.m. PST |
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| Guthroth | 28 Jan 2014 3:48 p.m. PST |
I would buy a whole game system if it included rules for these …. |
| Tango01 | 28 Jan 2014 11:14 p.m. PST |
Glad you like them too boys! (smile).
Agree with you Patrick. Amicalement
Armand |
was going to do the rifle teams next, but he forgot something… 
