The Ekranoplan - James May

[TUS 373]

Wow! I have never heard of this "Caspian Sea Monster" ground effect vehicle. It never ceases to amaze me some of the hardware, and the size of it, that came out of the former Soviet Union. Its breathtaking, although not perhaps very practical. Maybe the TVR of the military hardware world.

If you have not a clue what an Ekranoplan is, take a look here....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSYmSnpQ360 OMG!

[Carl_Spackler]

You need to read the new James Bond Novel, Devil may care, lot's of Ekanoplan action in that.

I was supprised after reading it that it actually existed.

[spitfire-ian]

I seem to remember from other topics that people on PH seem to be quite a fan of it.

[rhinochopig]

spitfire-ian said:

I seem to remember from other topics that people on PH seem to be quite a fan of it.

What's not to like? It's fast, it's noisy, it's a massive machine and it fires missiles whilst being fast, noisy and massive.

Edited by rhinochopig on Monday 19th January 09:58

[Graham]

Gravity plane sounds fun as well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QZ1KzveIic&fea...

[SiH]

Ekranoplan on a conveyor belt?








Anyone.....?

[humpbackmaniac]

Graham said:

Gravity plane sounds fun as well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QZ1KzveIic&fea...

USing compressed air to power compressors that compress air to make the vehicle heavier. Isnt there a perpetual motion type problem there? Great of it works though, looks a very peaceful way to travel.

[rhinochopig]

Graham said:

Gravity plane sounds fun as well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QZ1KzveIic&fea...

That narrator was hilarious.

[Marf]

SiH said:

Ekranoplan on a conveyor belt?








Anyone.....?

Get. Out.

[croyde]

I wonder if the Captain of that ditched airbus had seen the Ecranoplan?

[Shar2]

There have been several mentions of these craft in the aircraft threads that are ongoing. Fabulous vehicles.

[Nobody You Know]

Shame it never really got finished. Would be awesome to take a passenger flight accross the atlantic in it.

[Doobs]

I don't really understand what it's for, it seems to be a bad version of a hovercraft. Is there something that makes it better?

[rhinochopig]

Nobody You Know said:

Shame it never really got finished. Would be awesome to take a passenger flight accross the atlantic in it.

They did and were operational with the Russian military. They really put the wind up NATO as they would have been very very difficult to hit. Too fast for deck guns to target accurately at any kind of range, and too low and fast for ASMs(of that era) to track and hit. Several of the ASM equipped types could have made a real mess of a NATO surface fleet.

[ewenm]

Doobs said:

I don't really understand what it's for, it seems to be a bad version of a hovercraft. Is there something that makes it better?

It's a lot quicker than a hovercraft for a start.

[DrTre]

ewenm said:

Doobs said:

I don't really understand what it's for, it seems to be a bad version of a hovercraft. Is there something that makes it better?

It's a lot quicker than a hovercraft for a start.

I'd hazard a guess it's got better economy too.

[Sixpackpert]

Doobs said:

I don't really understand what it's for

Can 'fly' under enemy radar without being detected. Ideal for a quick strike.

[Skipppy]

Could you really cross the Atlantic in one? What happens if the seas got really rough?

[LayZ]

Nobody You Know said:

Shame it never really got finished. Would be awesome to take a passenger flight accross the atlantic in it.

Except it would have to be REALLY massive, and the ones the Russians built were pretty big. Stormy conditions really limit the use - you can't have waves hitting the wings at 400km/h.

Gravity plane is interesting but seems to me its unlikely to be any better than at best 50% efficient. All that compressed air has got to come from somewhere.

[croyde]

I can't imagine that it's very maneuverable. What happens if a fishing boat or high wave gets in the way.