Posted on 04/05/2006 4:52:43 AM PDT by Flavius
The Russians were experimenting with something like in the picture years ago. It would "fly" in what's called 'ground effect' close to the water on air that would compress under the wings. If they got much higher than 1/2 the wingspan the effect was lost and it would quit flying. The advantage was that they could make a very large 'plane' and it would scoot over the water, but it was useless over land. I think it was abandoned with the collapse of the SSR.
No. What it was is a simple WIG. From the image it looks like a single seater.
That is the Orlyonok
http://www.se-technology.com/wig/html/main.php?open=showcraft&code=&craft=25
srvlds.org
Bomb, bomb, bomb - bomb, bomb Iran!
Well maybe not the first, a guy named Alexander the Great,
356 BC to 323 BC one of the most successful military commanders in world history, conquering most of the world known to the ancient Greeks before his death. He conducted some pretty big military exercises. Amen.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
May 29, 1998, Friday, BC Cycle 11:52 Central European Time
SECTION: International News
HEADLINE: Chinese weapons-quality steel supplied to Iran, Israeli paper says
DATELINE: Tel Aviv
BODY: China has delivered 1,000 tons of special stainless steel of a quality which could be used in the manufacture of missiles, the Ha'aretz newspaper said Friday. The paper, quoting Israeli and U.S. intelligence sources, said that the deliveries took place a few weeks ago.
The steel was thought to be intended for fuel tanks for newly developed long-range missiles.
The issue of Chinese backing for the Iranian missile programme was high on the agenda this week when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited China, the paper reported.
Israel feels especially threatened by the Iranian Shihab 3 missile which is capable of reaching any target in Israel from Iran and which is due to go into series production.
The paper quoted U.S. intelligence sources as saying that a cargo of 22 tons of similar stainless steel produced in Russia was two months ago stopped by Azerbaijani authorities at the border as it was headed for Iran. Iran and Azerbaijan share a common border.
Israeli fears about an Iranian missile attack have inceased since Pakistan conducted nuclear tests on Thursday. Israelis fear that Pakistan could sell its nuclear weapons technology to its rich neighbour, Iran. dpa ur
Thanks for the additional info!
It's real. I have a book on all these Russian ground effect aircraft.
Probably 15 fishing boats hiding behind oil platforms.
Dump the junk?
:)
That plane contraption really doesn't have a sea worthy look to me. BUT, I don't know design. My 'sea legs' would say no to the opportunity of boarding.
I'm afraid of flying; but not at all of the water.
It's real? Would you board it?
The one in 66 looks real.
I just realized something, the Russians are the 'used car salesmen" of the weapons business because they really sold a load of turkeys to those Iranian suckers who bought the Russians' sales pitch hook, line and sinker.
I think it was a slip of the decimal point
I would fly in it? Heck, yeah. Ripping across the water at 200 mph would be a kick.
Here's the book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1857801466/qid=1144299066/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-8788413-2984801?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
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