Russians building new ground effect aircraft
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Russians building new ground effect aircraft
The Russian embassy in South Africa has tweeted pictures of a new ground effect vehicle, the Chaika A-050, which it claims will be ready by 2020-2022. The unusual aircraft, which flies just a few feet above the surface of a body of water, will act as a passenger transport, carrying up to 100.
A basic aerodynamic principle is that the closer a wing operates to the ground, the more efficient it becomes. That isn't a factor for most aircraft, which endeavor to stay far away from the ground during the vast majority of their flying hours.
A ground effect vehicle (GEV), on the other hand, embraces the increased wing efficiency by hugging the surface of an ocean, lake, or other body of water. GEVs fly over water because it is universally flat without obstacles and safer to crash on in the event of emergencies. The Soviet Union was an early pioneer in GEV research, building the so-called "Caspian Sea Monster" in the mid-1960s. At 544 tons, the Caspian Sea Monster was the largest GEV ever built.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/mili...w-sea-monster/
A basic aerodynamic principle is that the closer a wing operates to the ground, the more efficient it becomes. That isn't a factor for most aircraft, which endeavor to stay far away from the ground during the vast majority of their flying hours.
A ground effect vehicle (GEV), on the other hand, embraces the increased wing efficiency by hugging the surface of an ocean, lake, or other body of water. GEVs fly over water because it is universally flat without obstacles and safer to crash on in the event of emergencies. The Soviet Union was an early pioneer in GEV research, building the so-called "Caspian Sea Monster" in the mid-1960s. At 544 tons, the Caspian Sea Monster was the largest GEV ever built.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/mili...w-sea-monster/
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It's best to only think of these creatures as "aircraft" only in a very technical sense as in practical terms they're just boats that "float" out of the water until they "land"!
Last edited by six-sixty; 30th Aug 2017 at 07:59. Reason: spelling
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Very flat land, I expect.
Best to think of it as a very fast hovercraft, with the limitation that it can't actually hover (ie has to be moving to fly).
If I remember correctly, the original Russian ones were always limited by the fact that big waves were a problem (ie you don't want to hit a wave at 500km/h). Fine for inland seas, not great on the open ocean. This unfortunately tends to mean that you can't use them on long-distance routes where the much better efficiency than a plane would really pay off, and on short-distance routes it's not all that much faster than a ship.
The only solutions I'm aware of are to increase the size (which increases the usable ground-effect height) and to make it into a true plane (so if waves become a concern it can climb higher). Both the Boeing Pelican and Beriev Be-2500 concepts have implemented both solutions.
Best to think of it as a very fast hovercraft, with the limitation that it can't actually hover (ie has to be moving to fly).
If I remember correctly, the original Russian ones were always limited by the fact that big waves were a problem (ie you don't want to hit a wave at 500km/h). Fine for inland seas, not great on the open ocean. This unfortunately tends to mean that you can't use them on long-distance routes where the much better efficiency than a plane would really pay off, and on short-distance routes it's not all that much faster than a ship.
The only solutions I'm aware of are to increase the size (which increases the usable ground-effect height) and to make it into a true plane (so if waves become a concern it can climb higher). Both the Boeing Pelican and Beriev Be-2500 concepts have implemented both solutions.
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In the physics, lift is the effect of the pressure wave underneath the wing, and the associated zone of influence, which includes the bulb forward.
The weight of the ac, and the associate pressure wave with speed, will determine the ground effect influence.
Smooth waters, or rough waters, the function of the pressure wave underneath the wing allows for compensation of wave height/frequency to an extent. These were never meant for open ocean transport, but for inland seas.
I dont see a lot of surface vessels travelling at 300kts....so if it works...well.
Guess it kinda sorts the age old argument, Newtonian or Bernoullian?
The weight of the ac, and the associate pressure wave with speed, will determine the ground effect influence.
Smooth waters, or rough waters, the function of the pressure wave underneath the wing allows for compensation of wave height/frequency to an extent. These were never meant for open ocean transport, but for inland seas.
I dont see a lot of surface vessels travelling at 300kts....so if it works...well.
Guess it kinda sorts the age old argument, Newtonian or Bernoullian?
Last edited by underfire; 31st Aug 2017 at 00:33.
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Am I the only one thinking the Russians just enjoy yanking our chains? This ground effect vehicle, the "MIGs in Space" (see the Military thread)?
Concepts are one thing, spending billions to make something of such questionable value, well I'll believe it when I see it.
Concepts are one thing, spending billions to make something of such questionable value, well I'll believe it when I see it.
Far away from US destroyers, I imagine. In fact, avoiding surface traffic would appear to be among one of the problems that need solving.
I wonder what the turning characteristics of these things are. You can only bank so far before dragging a wingtip.
I wonder what the turning characteristics of these things are. You can only bank so far before dragging a wingtip.
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The numbers are too appealing, at least for freights, 50% more cargo capacity at only half of fuel consumption, if compared to a cargo airplane of the same size. Traffic could be a problem, but it can be controlled, I imagine similar to high speed trains.
From video below, I believe the technology is coming back fast:
Hovercraft Meets Aircraft
From video below, I believe the technology is coming back fast:
Hovercraft Meets Aircraft
The Iranians built small ones as a faster and more comfortable way of patrolling the Straits of Hormuz than bashing through every wave in a small boat:
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These ground effect type surface vessels are making quite a comeback these days. Not only for heavy lifting. As the roads clog up, people are looking for all kinds of ways to get around.
