A rare Russian machine... an "Ekranoplane"!

[StealthF117]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jan-30-03 AT 03:38PM (EST)[/font][p][font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jan-30-03 AT 03:37 PM (EST)[/font]

Check this out! The weirdest thing to lift from the ground I've ever seen: a Russian ekranoplane AN-90!

What in the world is that! Is it an airplane... a ship... WHAT!
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...e26ddf6a77.jpg

Now that is the most strange vertical tailfin I've ever seen!
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...df6ebe6a77.jpg

The cockpit: sadly too simple! I hope the designer re-considers and make a full, shiny new decent VC for this fantastic bird... boat... whatever
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...ef74987bf3.jpg

- Ok, Vassily, enough talking, start those engines and let's get going!
- Roger that, Yuri!
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...62750e2c0b.jpg

OK, we're in the water! The wings perform as floats, as well as the hull, untill the AN-90 speeds up and gains lift. Retracting gear...
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...d7756f6a77.jpg

Ok, let's feed this bird with some speed! From this angle looks strange, like a whale or something.
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...6275d9272f.jpg

- All right, comrade Vassily, engines at max power!
- Looking good, comrade Yuri... You can feel the fuselage gently lift off from the water
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...f47650e9a9.jpg

Airborne! Ok, this is what's happening: as the ekranoplane gains speed, the wings and aerodynamic surfaces produce lift, as in a conventional aircraft. The thing is that the air below the wings moves between the wing and the surface of the water creating a cushion of air below the ekranoplane. The design takes full advantage of this; if you pull up, the ekranoplane will eventually stall, and as it goes down the same phenomenon occurs: the air below the wings supports the weight of the aircraft like an air cushion, thus preventing it from hitting the surface.
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...747789b206.jpg

So far, so good! Take a look at the engine exhausts, the AN-90 has three turbo engines to provide energy to the propellers in the tail. In a moment you'll see the air intakes!
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...617a204a6c.jpg

Making a soft turn to the left. Since there's no much space, rudder is essential for changing direction. The wingtip floats can touch the water, of course, but not too much, because, as the water is a thicker environment than air, drag in that wingtip could cause the ekranoplane to spin and crash, and we don't want that, do we?
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...e37b906a90.jpg

Oh, yes, here are the engine intakes! Some pair, eh? Note the water trails produced by the air below the wingtips
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...517bdb822d.jpg

- Give me one wing, Vassily, just one wing
- Hey, this isn't "The Hunt for the Red October" and you're not Sean Connery!
A hard turn to the right. To perform this, we have to climb a little higher and then bank, otherwise the wing might sink in the water, and use the rudder, that's what that big rudder is there for!
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...c47d2560b7.jpg

This thing really needs a good VC!!!!
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...2a7d9469ca.jpg

This time a hard turn to the left. Note starboard wing; since its higher in the air, does not produce water trails as port wing does. OK, enough for today, let's get this bird down!
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...e57e2fe3b0.jpg

Down in the water again! Nice splash when the fuselage touches the surface.
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...427e7907bc.jpg

Gear down... time to leave the water
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...387f35e307.jpg

Engines stopped... nice flight, comrades!
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...5502ff3d0e.jpg

What can I say? GREAT PLANE... or boat... whatever! Its just great. controlling turns is a bit tricky, but once you get the feel is just great!

[mcwdainow]

ah yes, I remember watching a documentary about this beast.. using the cusioning effect of the water to make it skim across it :9

very cool shots by the way...

MSN e-mail address : mcwdainow@aol.com
[link:members.lycos.co.uk/mcwdainow/|My Desktop Images website and repaints]

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...b93e7d2637.jpg

[StealthF117]

Yes, I saw one years ago in Discovery Channel... wanted to try that machine ever since! It was supposed to serve as a fast landing craft for amphibious attacks but never entered production after the test phase.

Cheers!
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...d9463dbb3b.jpg
Christian

[TruffleShuffle]

Is that the Mermaid?

[StealthF117]

Eeeeeh... I'm not sure how did they call it, the official name was Ekranoplane "Orlyonok" A-90.

Cheers!
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...d9463dbb3b.jpg
Christian

[Avstar113]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jan-30-03 AT 05:35PM (EST)[/font][p]I remember a show called "Beyond 2000" that was on the Discovery Channel like in '95. I remember seeing a pleasure craft by Sikorsky that used this same type of flight dynamics.

Anyway.. That craft they showed was a lot smaller! Interesting aircraft indeed. :D



Regards,

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...e87163c0a9.jpg
-J.C.

[Peer]

Very nice to see this unusual plane Christian. I also remember
the item on Discovery Chann. Good shots of this "beauty"

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...8152122d8d.jpg

[TomEverittAFG]

Great post and shots :-)

Didn't they also build a much bigger version of this thing, called the Caspian Sea Monster or something along those lines. Powered by about 10 jets if I remember rightly.

Tom
AFG.

[Squitters]

Hi ya :-wave

Great shots and write-up bro :-cool and yeah Tom there was/is
the Caspian Sea Monster, a huge beast indeed, known as wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) craft.

http://foxxaero.homestead.com/nslink3.html



cheers guys,

Steve

[philliptan]

Hi

Cool plane! Where can I download it?

Cheers,
Phillip
http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/Use...735bb5d9b9.jpg