Caspian Sea Monster

[AutoEuphoria]

I gotta admit, the Soviets made some interesting shit.





Found these pics of a rusting one (not the same model as the one above)...probably the biggest pictures I've seen so far. Thought I'd share

"Lun (Spasatel)" (1987) - bigger than KM "Sea Monster" and way more dangerous!

"The 280 tonne, 74 metre long M-160 Lun was another ekranoplan developed from Alexeev designs. One was built in 1987, which entered service in 1989."

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

[AutoEuphoria]

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&sourc...21479&t=h&z=16

[AutoEuphoria]

Another good one:



The things that are possible with an limitless military budget

[AutoEuphoria]

Very good article:

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007...-showcase.html

[79pace]

That is pretty cool, I have never seen anything like that before.

[600WHP S4]

did the one in the last photo actually fly?

[AutoEuphoria]

I don't think any of them actually "flew"...they more or less skim across the water.

[91Bird305]

That was interesting stuff. Thanks

[AutoEuphoria]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8Nu94khHoo"]YouTube- Caspian Sea Monster Ekranoplan Flight Video[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWbmIT3zxOk"]YouTube- Caspian Sea Monster[/ame]

This one is in German, but good footage:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtZfawHnsS4"]YouTube- RUSSIAN EKRANOPLAN[/ame]

[ItsAllAboutTheT&A]

crazy stuff. I wonder how good it was actually built. It seems that the Russian government tends to skimp on stuff like safety tests and basic maintenance. That has been proven through time due to them wanting to rush stuff to get it done faster. (i.e Chernobyl and the electric damn facility that collapsed last year killing a bunch of workers)

That thing would be a mess if something failed over the water cruising at 300 mph!