Sit down and prepare yourself for another post about yet another monster machine that you won’t believe until you see it. It’s ostensibly a machine made for war, but happily it was never used for that and out of the whole intent and effort, this singular apparatus managed to show the way to more clever modes of flight. Behold the Ekranoplan flying boat: Russia’s ‘Caspian Sea Monster. The Lun-class ekranoplan (Soviet classification: Project 903) is the only ground effect vehicle (GEV) to ever be operationally deployed as a warship, deploying in the Caspian Flotilla. It was designed by Rostislav Alexeyev in 1975 and used by the Soviet and later Russian navies from 1987 until sometime in the late 1990s. It flew using lift generated by the ground effect acting on its large wings when within about four metres (13 ft) above the surface of the water.
The ground effect occurs when flying at an altitude of only a few metres above the ocean or ground; drag is greatly reduced by the proximity of the ground preventing the formation of wingtip vortices, thus increasing the efficiency of the wing. This effect does not occur at high altitude. What’s fascinating is that it was so low, it couldn’t easily been seen from above. It was intended by the Russians for it to be a war machine, but in the end it shone by highlighting new ways for aircraft to work. Impressive tech, in our opinion. Save the planet! And, if you’re interested, it’s still stranded / positioned for you to view and explore. Be kind.
Stay at the welcoming SEA STAR HOTEL, not far from Sea Monster. Click here to look and book.
As ever, Tripadvisor have got you covered. Click here to book things to do near Dagestan.