Is is a boat? Is it a plane? No, it's the Russian EKRANOPLAN

[Bill Ryan]

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This is of general historical interest only, but I bet not too many of you had ever heard of this. It shows just how clever the Russians are -- and always have been.

The Ekranoplan was basically an enormous flying boat that was never intended to lift off the water more than a few feet. Some of them could reach speeds of 400 mph, skimming the wave tops, flying under US radar (as it was then). As a military asset, it could also be regarded as a super-fast ship that didn't actually touch the water.

Take a look. These things really existed! When the Americans first saw one of these by satellite, at first they couldn't understand what they were looking at.

Here's an archive of images, three of which are below (these are all actual photos).

http://darkroastedblend.com/2007/05/ekranoplans-showcase.html

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hVOW2U7K4-M/SiO0ZyLQIpI/AAAAAAABCHQ/Dge0oBP3vPs/s800/22.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hVOW2U7K4-M/SiO0RD9AhkI/AAAAAAABCEo/UzsdkLfcruU/s800/1.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hVOW2U7K4-M/SiO0Yp1OvfI/AAAAAAABCG4/Yb1qv9pliTI/s800/19.jpg

And here's an astonishing video, containing rare archive Russian footage. For all you technology buffs, be amazed.

:)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgtaeRZjWNc

[Ecnal61]

it reminds me of something from thunderbirds,cheers bill.

[Cognitive Dissident]

Thanks Bill - actually I had heard of it... the CIA were so amazed by the satellite photos, they didn't know what it was, only that it is was huge and moved very fast, so they called it the Caspian Sea Monster.

Here are some current photos of the Lun model, now rusting away in Russia...

http://www.wired.com/rawfile/2011/06/ekranoplan/?viewall=true

[gittarpikk]

Hi Bill

Yes, those were designed a long time ago...and were mostly effective at lifting medium loads a few feet (rather than at high altitude) and getting them to a distant place a half globe away....very quickly...ie tanks..etc

This design has been modified in many sizes ranging from a free running rubber powered toy version that skimmed the ground ...plans in some popular mechanics magazine way back in the 50's...to ocean liner size ones that Russia built with 10-15 turbines for power.

I have seen videos of the Radio Control hobbyist versions (although not quite practical for anything) that fly well in the precise ground effect utilized by their inherent design (inverted V wing with tip sponsons).
There was also a homebuilt plan and review available from PM one month years ago.

Not many know about them...and they are quite efficient for hauling freight at much higher speeds than any ship. as ground effect saves a lot of fuel.

I fly RC planes...have been since the late 60's..and now fly mostly by video link to my vr goggles from the cockpit itself...and have looked at possibly modeling one for that experience as the rush of flying at high speed inches above the water would be interesting.

Here is a google images link for those that wish to look at the many different sizes and uses


https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1137&bih=596&q=ekranoplanes&oq=ekronoplan&gs_l=img.1.5.0i10l10.1834.6662.0.10305.10.10.0.0.0.0.99.839.10.10.0....0...1ac.1.36.img..0.10.836.Qf nyv4PXgCo

update...
The term W.I.G is the term used to also describe a Wing In Ground Effect vehicle

and here is a link to a page that has a lot of videos of all kinds of them

http://www.mashpedia.com/Ground_effect_vehicle

[AngelArmy]

Interesting hammer head shape

[ghostrider]

Thanks Bill , look at how advanced the thinking was back then ... hiding under radar , ehummm lets just make a boat that can fly ... There is really no telling what sort of toys the Russians have or just how far advanced they are ...

[Ammit]

I think it was nicknamed "the caspian sea monster".
It was an A-90, weighed 140 tons and it was 58 meters long. It reached 400 km/h and flew about 5 to 10 meters from the sea surface.

[Sunny-side-up]

An amazing machine!

When I look at the design I can sort of see how Russian's developed there projects by just adding/welding a bit on here and there as needed!

There is a car sized version for frozen lakes.
Very dangerous flying just above the surface, no time to miss objects or people Doh!

[Mare]

I believe they were only effective though when the sea was like a 'mill pond' and that was their downfall.

[Sidney]

Thanks Bill , look at how advanced the thinking was back then ... hiding under radar , ehummm lets just make a boat that can fly ... There is really no telling what sort of toys the Russians have or just how far advanced they are ...

You read my mind GR. I was thinking the same thing. What ARE they doing today behind closed doors.:scared:

Thanks for the thread Bill. I had not heard of it either, and surprising too, given the size of that thing. Would be a good docu for the history channel. Seeing thAT thing, open wide and launching missiles, holy cow. I wonder if they ever crashed one of those.

[DeDukshyn]

Pretty useless if caught in a storm though ... =)

[superconsciousness]

g2O7rZTBs7w

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

Looks like a slightly downgraded (lolling is ok) answer to the B1 bomber...
imagine one of those things in new york harbor :( LOL

the B1 was capable of flight, quite fast for low alt,
it was able to go beneath the radar and carrying a nuclear payload overground (and i guess over water too) lol.

http://defense-update.com/images/b-1Bdumb.jpg
vs.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hVOW2U7K4-M/SiO0RD9AhkI/AAAAAAABCEo/UzsdkLfcruU/s800/1.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockwell_B-1_Lancer

It was first envisioned in the 1960s as a supersonic bomber with Mach 2 speed, and sufficient range and payload to replace the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. It was developed into the B-1B, primarily a low-level penetrator with long-range and Mach 1.25 speed capability at high altitude.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekranoplan

A ground effect vehicle (GEV) is one that attains level flight near the surface of the Earth, making use of the aerodynamic interaction between the wings and the surface known as ground effect. Best known are the Soviet ekranoplanes, but names like wing-in-ground-effect (WIG), flarecraft, sea skimmer, or wing-in-surface-effect ship (WISE) are also used. In recent years a large number of different GEV types have been developed for both civilian and military use. However, these craft have yet to enter widespread use.

Although they might look similar and/or have related technical characteristics, ground effect vehicles are not aircraft, seaplanes, hovercraft, or hydrofoils - ground effect is a separate technology altogether. The International Maritime Organization classifies these vehicles as maritime ships.

What our B-1 lacked was the ability to take advantage of physical ground effects;
i.e. it flew low over ground and water in order to foil radar, but unlike the Ekranoplan, it was unable to use these surfaces or its proximity to them in order to increase speed/decrease fuel load.

iirc.

super post, Bill, the name of the plane made me LOL because of Avatar.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikran

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100630004218/jamescameronsavatar/images/thumb/e/e0/Jakes_first_flight_experience.png/1000px-Jakes_first_flight_experience.png

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekran

Ekran (Russian: "Экран", "Screen") was a Soviet-Russian type of geostationary satellite, developed for a national system of Direct-To-Home television.

hmm lol

[Atlas]

More images of the Ekranoplan (inside (http://igor113.livejournal.com/52174.html) - outside (http://igor113.livejournal.com/51213.html))

http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/igor113/15886453/749629/749629_original.jpg

http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/igor113/15886453/4866657/4866657_original.jpg

http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/igor113/15886453/3166814/3166814_original.jpg

HRT-R9BidoM

[Bill Ryan]

The Chinese now have their own modern version. :) (Wow!)

Posted on Zero Hedge today:


https://www.zerohedge.com/military/chinas-mysterious-bohai-sea-monster-spotted-first-time

China's Mysterious "Bohai Sea Monster" Spotted for the First Time

China’s mysterious "Bohai Sea Monster” wing-in-ground effect (WIG) craft has been seen in full for the first time, according to a report.

https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/inline-images/China-Ekranoplan-2025-06-30-1536x803_jpg_webp_92.jpg?itok=nwJpVl7j

Via Naval NewsThe Ekranoplan, which is a special ultra-low flying aircraft made up of features from ships, airplanes, and hovercraft, was first spotted in the northwest area of the Yellow Sea, by submarine warfare expert HI Sutton. These craft are designed to fly below the radar horizon, while being much faster than ships.

Naval News (https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/06/china-builds-new-jet-powered-large-ekranoplan/) reports:
The aircraft features a flying boat hull with a distinctive T-tail arrangement with two vertical stabilizers. This configuration is not found on regular aircraft but has been used on several Ekranoplans including some in China. It appears to have a comparatively short wingspan and large tail, typical of Ekranoplans.Four jet engines are mounted above the wing. These have slightly flattened nozzles suggesting downward angled thrust. This two is indicative of an Ekranoplan design.
Soviet-designed ekranoplans, massive ground-effect vehicles, are built for rapid troop and armored vehicle deployment in amphibious assaults, a role typically filled by hovercraft in China's Navy (PLAN). This new model could signal an aggressive push for beach-storming transport capabilities, according to Naval News.

https://assets.zerohedge.com/s3fs-public/inline-images/Bohai-Sea-monster-Groun-deffect_jpg_92.jpg?itok=lkhOHsbm

China isn't the only superpower with an ekranoplan. The U.S. is forging ahead with the Liberty Lifer, a cutting-edge ekranoplan aimed at hauling heavy cargo, troops, and gear across the vast Pacific. This beast could slash the Pentagon’s logistical nightmares.