Oh, the old "Caspian Sea Monster"! That's what the CIA called it when they got the first satellite photos. They'd heard stories, but couldn't believe such a huge beast existed.

A really cool idea, but I have to ask, if you go to that much trouble, why not just build an airplane?

And, yes, thanks. Some of that I've never seen before either. Wish I spoke Russian!

[This message has been edited by Zeb (edited 08-12-2014).]

Ah yes, the old Ekranoplan. Here's a 3-part series ( in English ) that describes it in detail:

Previously posted on PFF ... taken at an air museum outside of Moscow several years ago by a friend of mine:



Here's what it once looked like:

[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 08-13-2014).]

http://jalopnik.com/the-ten...n-the-wor-1464369226

"Kaspiysk, Dagestan, Russia

This is a port rather than a boneyard, but it has a Lun-class ekranoplan, and that alone is worth your time.

This "Caspian Sea Monster" Was a Giant Soviet Spruce Goose"



http://gizmodo.com/this-cas...spruce-go-1456423681

Wonder if it is still there.

[This message has been edited by 2.5 (edited 08-13-2014).]

Given the scrap value of aluminum, I doubt those things are still around.

Kind of a shame.

Wonder what would happen to these if thewere caught in rough seas.