Unfinished soviet Ekranoplan, onboard visit

[Kerosene Kraut]

Does a ground effect vehicle belong into "aviation"? If yes here are some truly fascinating pictures of some forgotten huge Ekranoplan:

Red Sormovo, Project 903 (http://lana-sator.livejournal.com/207388.html)

PS: Hope this link works for you. For me it does.
Otherwise go to Webseite: http://lana-sator.livejournal.com and then add slash 207388.html to the address please.

[trident3A]

Some beautiful photos there!

[Arclite01]

That will never be finished - so sad.

I think it was also called 'The Caspian Sea Monster'

Ekranoplans are a bit like hovercraft to me - for a long time a technology looking for a use...........

Arc

[Howard81]

What fantastic photos! I have known about this Ekranoplan for years, but until now only a couple of poor quality photos have existed, so it is a real treat to see it in a greater detail :ok:

The Ekranoplan in the photos is the second "Lun" class Ekranoplan built - the original still exists in an abandoned state in a shipyard in Kaspiysk:

Ekranoplan | English Russia (http://englishrussia.com/2010/03/12/ekranoplan/)

Here is that Lun in action:

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp309/howard81/Lun-Class-Ekranoplan.jpg[/URL]

The second unfinished Lun class Ekranoplan shown in the original link was being built as a search and rescue vehcile known as the "Spasatel". Apparently about 90% finished, but the project simply ran out of money. Here's a model of what it would have looked like finished:

http://i422.photobucket.com/albums/pp309/howard81/Spasatel_Ekranoplan_Modell.jpg[/URL]

The Caspain Sea Monster was a different Ekronoplan (an even bigger version than the Lun!). Sadly it was accidentally sunk in the hands on an inexperienced pilot in 1980.

Howard