Russian Wing and Ground Effect Vehicles

[Fareastdriver]

I came across this fascinating documentary on this topic It show an insight to the efforts in Russia that I did not know existed.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKddP0VCJk0

[Heathrow Harry]

been discussed on a number of threads on PPrune over the years - do a search - some amazing pics IIRC a year or so back of the remains of the Caspian Sea Monster on here somewhere

[caiman27]

The big one is very much still in existence. Have a look at the dockyard at Kaspiysk on the Caspian Sea on Google Earth - dated 6 May 2017. Until recently there was also at least one of the smaller Orlyonok type in the same place but it has now disappeared along with the collection of large hovercraft.

[WHBM]

The Soviets did a huge amount of research into very high speed water vehicles, surprising given they had a notably small coastline (for the overall size of the country) to defend. Jet flying boats (Beriev), the Ekranoplans (Caspian Sea Monster), and various hydrofoils, which last they became expert in and can still be seen in commercial service around the country on rivers and lakes.

I get the feeling that one thing they would all find challenging is storm conditions. Something which naval vessels have taken in their stride for centuries.

[Fareastdriver]

When our cruise ship ran aground on the Yangtze River we were transported by Russian style hydrofoils. The interior was just like an aircraft with frames and stringers easily seen because half the lining was missing.

Went like bat out of hell though.

[Dockwell]

Seems they havnt given up on the idea either !


https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/04/06/ekranoplan_returns/

[IcePaq]

There is one big one stored in a hangar in very good condition.

[WHBM]

Russian hydrofoil at speed. They are known as "Raketa" (Rockets). The diesel engine makes a considerable noise - This one was certainly heard coming before we saw it round a bend in the river. At the speed they go, that's just as well.

[chevvron]

Russian hydrofoil at speed. They are known as "Raketa" (Rockets). The diesel engine makes a considerable noise - This one was certainly heard coming before we saw it round a bend in the river. At the speed they go, that's just as well.
Saw one like that in Kos. Had to shunt back and forth many times to do a 180, whereas other hydrofoils didn't.

[PDR1]

There are dozens of those hydrofoils used in the waterbus role in St Petersberg.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Hydrofoil_rear_view_SaintPetersburg.JPG/640px-Hydrofoil_rear_view_SaintPetersburg.JPG

They're very fast and reasonably comfortable.

PDR

[Heathrow Harry]

didn't Boeing produce something similar?

[wub]

didn't Boeing produce something similar?

Boeing Jetfoil, still in use between Hong Kong and Macau.

[Expatrick]

Russian built hydrofoil plying the Danube, Budapest to Esztergom

[Fareastdriver]

Hydrofoils go everywhere in Hong Kong and the Pearl River. Because the Chinese will never throw anything away there is almost no chance of them hitting any debris in the water.

It did happen once, to my knowledge, on the HK Macau run.

[gyp]

Interesting bit of background here The Caspian Sea Monster (http://www.a-e-g.org.uk/the-caspian-sea-monster.html)

[washoutt]

I seem to recall a story where a Boeing Stratocruiser with passenger and all had engine trouble half-way from Honolulu to the US and they could only stay air-borne till LA by flying in ground effect. Any truth in that?

[WHBM]

Interesting bit of background here The Caspian Sea Monster (http://www.a-e-g.org.uk/the-caspian-sea-monster.html)
I regret to say that, on a family holiday in Turkey, an extraordinarily portly Russian guest at the hotel waddled in and out of the sea daily, who I referred to as The Caspian Sea Monster, until reprimanded by Mrs WHBM :eek: , whereupon she was The Ekranoplan.

[gyp]

Interesting article here - http://www.a-e-g.org.uk/the-caspian-sea-monster.html]The Caspian Sea Monster