Monday, January 18, 2010

Ekranoplan


Russian Ekranoplan

Looking somewhat like the offspring of a seagull and a hammerhead shark, the ekranoplan is a high-speed ground-effect craft/water cruising vehicle with wings to lift it 10-30 feet above the surface. It cannot fly as conventional aircraft, rather it rides on a cushion of air immediately above the water.

The Scandinavians and Russians have been toying with the concept for the last 50-something years. In particular, the Soviet Navy wanted to make it into a missile-launching platform or rescue vessel.

Developers struggle to find a niche for the ekranoplan.

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