A90 Orlyonok Ekranoplan

[Zathros]

This is a long term project I have been working on. The nose section was, somewhat difficult, to achieve. The limitations of paper and making something that looked like the actual craft is still a work in progress, but I am getting close. There is an error where the rudder meets the hull, it's easy to fix, I am going to deal with it when i get back there again. The Renders are just visual aids (as everyone knows I', sure). Every part on this model unfolds. This is one reason it has taken so long. I have made the nose section to make sure it would work, and it does. So, that's what I'm working on. The Half model does not reflect recent improvements.

A long time ago there was a guy on this forum who nitpicked the heck out of me about this craft. At the time, some of the literature out did not have all the specs. I called the Moscow Hydrodynamic Bureau (similar type name, can't remember it exactly), which at the time, was in charge of this project. They verified what I had read, that it has a maximum ceiling of 10,000 ft, at a great loss of fuel efficiency.

 

[Rhaven Blaack]

A most interesting plane indeed. Ground effect aircraft have always intrigued me.
Looking good so far.
Keep up the good work.

 

[peter taft]

A most interesting plane indeed. Ground effect aircraft have always intrigued me.
Looking good so far.
Keep up the good work.

I second this :thumb:

 

[rbeach84]

Thump it!:thumb:

 

[Zathros]

I think this Winter I am going to try and finalize this thing. It is starting to become a monkey of my shoulder.

 

[Mark Crowel]

Obviously, you don't mind a challeging project. Keep at it; it looks like you're off to a good start.

I'm surprised that the Russian design bureau for this thing was so open with their information.

Anyway, it's going to be an interesting model of an unsual subject when it's done.

 

[Zathros]

Obviously, you don't mind a challeging project. Keep at it; it looks like you're off to a good start.

I'm surprised that the Russian design bureau for this thing was so open with their information.

Anyway, it's going to be an interesting model of an unusual subject when it's done.

In the early Post-Soviet days, the united States government paid Russia the fees needed to get an A90 up and running, run extensive tests and shared (Russia shared) massive amounts of data, with the idea stated of a possible purchase, or, co-production. This of course was a "scam", and thought Government just walked off with all the data. I always thought an opportunity was missed by this, and many other early, Post Soviet projects, to establish a "New" relationship with Russia. Maybe it isn't too late. A company in Alaska wished to produce the IVolga for transportation as it is the perfect environment for a vessel of this type. The 'Jones Act" prohibits such a venture as the craft must be wholly made in the U.S. (this protects our shipping industry, but also inhibits it). So, the IVolga, which would have been co-produced, was not acquired. A very interesting video of the craft. A very stable machine also capable of flying out of ground effect.

[youtube=Real Steel]-u5YuFA20WQ[/youtube]

 

[Mark Crowel]

My computer doesn't play videos very well; it's dial-up, and videos show slowly and irregularly. But from what I am seeing, it's an interesting craft. An inverted gull-wing lifting body. High-speed over-the-water transportation, unaffected by waves, and not subject to the hazards and weather limitations of higher altitude flight.

Great shuttle transportation for travel between islands, or parcel shipping. I like it.

Russian trust could be restored, and our shipping industry could be protected, if the Alaskan company built the thing entirely in the U.S., but paid licensing fees to Russia.

 

[Zathros]

We could just develop one, but the Ivolga, the science behind it, is so well established, it would be re-inventing the wheel. It would be better if we did some kind of trade-off. Maybe buy 5 or 10, and then have the right to produce it here, still paying licensing fees. I loaded up a couple of pictures for you. Not an inverted wing. The body itself produces lift. It's profile is like that of a wide chord wing, the little fold up wings give it the extra lift. This craft lands on water and snow, and ice, and easily can come up on a grassy or sandy beach. Of course, to sell them here, or even use them, out (US) government would have to play catch up and categorize them properly, preferably to international standards.

 

[Mark Crowel]

The ducted fans tilt.
That craft has great shuttle potential for destinations that are too close together for regular aircraft, and too far away for for bridge or ferry-boat commuting.
Will the ground effect flight work just as well over land?

 

[Zathros]

That craft (Ivolga) has flown almost to the North Pole over Snow, semi frozen rivers, Marsh, you name if, it flies over it. That's the same with all ground effect craft, and they can fly very low, which means they can go under most bridges.

 

[Mark Crowel]

These ground effect craft have civilian (rapid commuting) and military (fast attack, ground support, radar evasion) capabilities.

During the Cold War, the Russians developed a military ground effect craft for use on the Black Sea. It had missle launching tubes. It was a scary-looking thing.

 

[Zathros]

STRK has a really nice model of the LUN (the one you are referring too) at ECardmodels.

 

[Mark Crowel]

THAT'S the one! That critter looks like it carries a whole lot of nasty!

Thanks for posting the photo.

 

[Billy Leliveld]

It is still sitting in Kasipyk,in you can see it on Google earth, check this guy's blog; the pictures are amazing
http://igor113.livejournal.com/51213.html

 

[JHSurf]

I guess that plane subscribes to the same aerodynamics the bumble-bee does. Looking at all the pics I am amazed it could ever get air borne.

 

[KOCMOHABT]

Orlyonok - Eaglet. Alexeev who originally engineered those Ekranoplans had a lot of funding when Khruschev was in power. Alexeev was real straight forward and made a lot of enemies from other industries who also wanted piece of funding pie. That missile tube one was intended to be mass produced and used against NATO carrier groups in Atlantic.But then after one of trial accidents project was shot down. Typical Russian story, great and promising project shot down by petty rivalry and envy.

 

[Zathros]

Those aircraft, 10 years earlier, would have been a game changer. They would have had to been "compensated" for, in the defense sense. The ability to go far inland and land on relatively unprepared areas or waterways, unload troops. There is a lot more to these ships and modern avionics make them more relevant.

 

[sjsquirrel]

Egads!

It is still sitting in Kasipyk,in you can see it on Google earth, check this guy's blog; the pictures are amazing
http://igor113.livejournal.com/51213.html

Holy Carp!

I didn't appreciate the size of that thing until seeing those pictures. That's one big scary mother of an airplane.

Thanks for the link.

Steve

 

[RazgrizBSG27]

I have thought about trying to find one of these foe awhile , but I never thought anybody would make one