ENU From Netherlands, joined Nov 2006, 1166 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 28517 times:
I just came across these pictures in the database and I am just wondering what this military (?) aircraft is used for. Any background information will be appreciated!
Connies4ever From Canada, joined Feb 2006, 3856 posts, RR: 13 Reply 2, posted (5 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 28493 times:
Quoting NorthStarDC4M (Reply 1): it's one of the Soviet Ekranoplan designs. It is "military", from the late 60s.
N
I'll have to dig through my back issues of AIR International, but I think that's the one that was referred to as the "Caspian Sea Monster" by the CIA. Late 60s/early 70s.
NorthStarDC4M From Canada, joined Apr 2000, 2804 posts, RR: 41 Reply 6, posted (5 years 10 months 4 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 28391 times:
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Well the ORIGINAL Caspian Sea Monster was actually the single KM Ekranoplan...
The KM was actually "small" for an Ekranoplan...
The Lun class and the AS-90 were both later designs, much larger, that the CIA and USAF were still trying to fathom up into the 80s and were still known as Caspian Sea Monsters... but anyways, fascinating bit of engineering, pity it's never been used much...
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KBFIspotter From United States of America, joined May 2005, 729 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (5 years 10 months 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 28316 times:
Quoting NorthStarDC4M (Reply 6): The Lun class and the AS-90 were both later designs, much larger
not quite true... Per Sergey Komissarov's book, Russia's Ekranoplans, the KM was the largest of the Alexeyev ekranoplans weighing in at 1,299,300lbs, and 300ft long. the Lun is 240ft long and weighs 838,000lbs, and the Orlyonok (A-90) ios 190ft and weighs 275,000lbs.
Only one KM was built, and it crashed in 1980, one Lun was completed, and is now Derilict at a Russian Amphibious base, and finally, three A-90s were built, and two crashed. It should be mentioned that there is a second lun basically complete in Nizhni Novgorod. Does any one have any information on this? I know that they were wanting to turn it into a search and rescue craft called the Spasatel.
Deskflier From Sweden, joined Jan 2007, 537 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 27963 times:
The Soviets actually had a civilian version in service from the mid-1970s. It carried passengers along the great rivers in Ukraine and southern Russia, the Black Sea coast, and across the Caspian. No known international routes. I don't remember if they were operated by Aeroflot or if they were operated by the Soviet Ferry Service. Pretty sure though that the military variants were operated by the Navy rather than any Aviation Services (FA, AV-MF, or V-TA). Which would indicate that the Ekranoplanes were classified as boats rather than aircraft.
FA = Frontovaya Aviatsiya (Frontal Aviation)
AV-MF = Aviatsiya Voenno - Morskoi Flota (Aviation of the Military High-Seas Fleet)
V-TA = Voenno - Transportny Aviatsiya (Military Airlift Service)
Apologies for my poor Russian.
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RHAnthony From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 41 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 27941 times:
How cool of a house boat would that make? I mean c'mon!!
Anyone have any KMLs for google earth to show where these places are you guys are talking about the left overs being? Would love to see one @ a dock.
Sovietjet From Bulgaria, joined Mar 2003, 2339 posts, RR: 14 Reply 11, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 27804 times:
Looks like the A-90 has 2xNK-8 turbojets and a NK-12 turboprop!! Imagine the sound that thing makes! Like a blend between older Tu-154s and a Tu-95. Music to the ears.
Ignat From Russia, joined Jan 2002, 54 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 27710 times:
Hello!
Deskflier,
There weren't any civil versions. A-90 were belonged to the Naval Aviation, 11th separate aviation group of ekranoplanes (the translation from Russian into English might be not accurately).
AutoThrust From Switzerland, joined Jun 2006, 1480 posts, RR: 8 Reply 13, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 27697 times:
Impressive vid, thanks Kessje for posting it.This Ekranoplanes are really marvel of engeneering. Was there ever anything as fast as this things on the Water?
I 've readed that the number one point of the Ekranoplanes was they could under"fly" the Radar is this true?
RHAnthony From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 41 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 27661 times:
I would imagine something that low would avoid radar, but I would think with ship radar now, that would be something harder to avoid. But... I doubt anything would catch it.
Wondering why this type of design wasn't persued, and it seems the idea for a while was to go to that stealth boat idea the US navy had for a long time. Seems this was working out great.
HaveBlue From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 2069 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 27626 times:
Quoting DIJKKIJK (Reply 15): What exactly is a 'ground effect' ?
Ground effect is the phenominon whereby an aircraft flying within one wingspan of the ground has much less induced drag. Say that a planes wingspan is 100' wide. Well when that airplane flies within 100' of the ground its drag is significantly lower.
For an example, when going for my pilots license I practiced soft feild takeoffs. You would pull back on the yoke as you started the take off roll and instead of waiting for 60 knots to rotate you would get airborne as soon as possible, which I think was around 50 knots. Now your airborne at a speed that you can only fly at within that Cessnas 30' wingspan of the ground. So you keep it on the deck until you get that other 10 or so knots of speed, then climb out. Another words in that Cessna I was flying at a speed that was only possible that close to the ground because of the reduced drag.
Keesje From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 27597 times:
In the seventies a version was developped that could fly both in ground effect but also at higher attitude / speeds by Beriev / Bartini. Three proto´s were build, dedicated to ASW.
A prototype is rotting away in an outdoor museum..
Corsair1107 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 121 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 27467 times:
Imagine the ear protection you'd need to pilot that beast with the 8 turbojets, bet it would have been fun though.
Pacificjourney From New Zealand, joined Jul 2001, 2698 posts, RR: 9 Reply 20, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 27318 times:
I looked over one of those sat a military transport museum in Feodisia in the Ukraine. Not sure which model but it was big and beautiful.
Designed for amphibious assault mainly but too many problems with corrosion from flying too close to the sea water all the time.
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29350 posts, RR: 62 Reply 21, posted (5 years 10 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 27181 times:
Is there any good references to the aerodynamics of this form of transportation.
My understanding is that in the US the Erkanoplane falls under USCG not FAA rules.
Quoting Deskflier (Reply 9): The Soviets actually had a civilian version in service from the mid-1970s.
There was a company proposing to use an Australian designed one in service in southeast alaska. I don't think anything came from it.
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