Posted on 04/23/2004 5:39:17 PM PDT by Shermy
SARATOV - The US Navy Department intends to subsidize the development of an advanced Russian aircraft, which will eventually be extinguishing forest fires on US territory. This UFO-shaped flying machine is currently being designed by the Saratov aviation concern.
The Saratov aircraft enterprise, which is located in Russia's Volga region, started assembling UFO-shaped flying machines in the 1990s; however, this R&D project was then moth-balled because of financial snags.
Many aircraft companies all over the world did their best to design similar flying machines. However, Saratov's aircraft designers managed to come with some unusual engineering solutions, also building a flying-saucer mock-up.
Designers managed to overcome vibration being caused by turbulence flows, after opting for the flying-saucer concept; this problem was also solved with the help of some other know-how. This flying machine is called the EKIP (Russian acronym, Ecology and Progress).
Moreover, the hovercraft's special coating enhances lift by 40 percent (with the help of turbulence flows). Consequently, the EKIP's payload accounts for only 40-45 percent of its mass; meanwhile the relevant aircraft ratio is 20-25 percent.
The EKIP boasts some other unique specifications; for example, it can transport 100-ton loads over several thousand km at 500-700 kph and at 8-13-km altitudes. This unique hovercraft can skim along at 160 kph just above the surface.
Many foreign companies had repeatedly suggested establishing a joint venture together with the Saratov factory in the late 1990s; however, the US naval-aviation research center alone offered acceptable terms, the Saratovskiye Vesti newspaper writes.
Specific contract terms were not disclosed. According to the aircraft factory's general director Alexander Yermishin, Russia will retain EKIP copyright. The market will be divided, after batch production gets underway, with the United States paying dividends to Russia for every EKIP aircraft, Yermishin added.
First of all, the US side needs the EKIP remotely piloted aircraft for fighting fires and coping with natural calamities, Yermishin said in conclusion.
THANKS MUCH.
I think it's a good site, too.
How high off the ground was yours? Mine was about 8 or 10 stories up, and because it was so huge, I saw it quite clearly.
An IMAX theater with wings!!!
I'm glad I was lucky enough to see it, and even happier that it didn't make me into a UFO nut!
Agreed.
Are you on our ping list? Do you want to be?
Please let Las Vegas Dave and I know if you want on.
Excellent sighting report.
I was trying to execute the 'end of the open interstate detour, but it was my impression that it arose from approximately 1000 yards away and ascended as it went over my choking-engine car. It seemed approximately two or three football fields in length and one in width; it filled my sunroof opening but not my windshield.
It kinda looks like my waffle machine.
kewl
Sure. I'm surprised this thread is still active.
I've seen some cylinder photos on the net, but they are always way short, basically the minimum definition of a cylindrical object.
Were you freaked out, or unusually serene about the encounter?
Thanks. Interesting craft.
Interesting collaboration.
Reminds me of the contention that WWII, the cold war . . . etc. etc. etc. were all distractions from the globalists hiding UFO technologies AND hiding their manipulations toward a tyrannical globalist government.
Still, I hate seeing my beloved US NAVY being in cahoots with the Ruskies.
But, it's an interesting craft. I hope we get some good out of it.
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