"Gliding over all, through all...

as a ship on the waters advancing" -- Walt Whitman (speaking of a human soul) We are concluding our "Fascinating Hydrofoils" series (don't miss highly popular Soviet "Raketa" Hydrofoils) with this overview of hydrofoil development - with some truly interesting historic vessels that you might not have seen before. "Hayate" is a streamlined Japanese hydrofoil concept, currently located at Kobe Maritime Museum (and another Japanese beautiful "gliding" vessel showcased nearby: magneto-hydro-dynamic "Yamato"):

(top image via, bottom image info)

Most stylish hydroplane boat ever? Also, the world's first regular hydrofoil passenger service Baron von Schertel was the designer of many concept Nazi hydrofoil boats (read further in this article). After the war, he moved to Switzerland and in 1952 came up with Supramar PT-10, which was also called Golden Arrow, Freccia D'Oro:

(images via)

It could fit thirty two passengers and was used in the early 1950s between Locarno (Switzerland) and Stresa (Italy) on the Lake Maggiore:

(image via)

Similarly stylish was the "Meteor-III" seen on Lake Wakatipu, near Queenstown, New Zealand:

(image via)

"Meteor III was brought to Queenstown from England by pioneering tourism operator Frank Howarth in 1966. The 10m boat carries 17 passengers, has a top speed of 70kmh, cruises at 55kmh and is renowned for its smooth ride on the water." In the Beginning... A hydrofoil is a very distinctive type of watercraft that has been around in one form or another for over a century. The first hydrofoil boat was designed and built in 1906 by Enrico Forlanini. It had a classic Ladder type construction with multiple struts coming down with

multiple wings between each of them. The 60 hp engine operated two counter-rotating air props and the craft reached a breathtaking top speed of 42.5 mph during tests.

(left: Hydrofoil boat 1910 Forlanini Idroplano: Lake Maggiore; images via)

Forlanini's started experimenting with hydrofoils in 1898 with a series of model tests, characterized by a "ladder" foil system:

(images via 1, 2)

On the right image above is the early hydrofoil by Gaetano Arturo Crocco, who is considered as a pioneer of the aviation and the father of aerodynamics studies in Italy. During the period from 1905 to 1907, together with another engineer Ricaldoni, he built the experimental boat Idroplano, with its distinct V-shaped steel foils and aerial propellers:

(image via, courtesy Stefano Dentice)

Telephone pioneer Alexander Graham Bell and Casey Baldwin developed a boat based on Floraninis design in 1919. The Hydrodrome 4 or HD-4 reached a speed of 60 knots, a record for the fastest hydrofoil boat not broken until the sixties:

(images via)

Here is a great scale model of HD-4, built by Dave Acker:

(image via)

Perhaps the oddest of early concepts is the "Outboard Ski-Plane" from 1930, constructed by C. T. Elle, of Chicago:

(image credit: Modern Mechanix, via)

"The idea is that when the boat gets up speed the front of the skis will be raised, causing the boat to come to the surface. When wind gets under the wing it is supposed to furnish enough lift to permit the boat to skip over the waves." The Lantern (HC-4), built in 1953 by the Hydrofoil Corporation in USA, was quite unusual in its shape and hydrofoil configuration (it also featured the earliest hydrofoils to use electronic controls):

"The Carl Boat", or Carl XCH-4, was designed by William P. Carl in 1953:

Two 250 hp Pratt and Whitney R-985 aircraft engines with two-bladed controllable pitch propellers provided the trust to carry this craft to the highest speed attained since those achieved by Alexander Graham Bells HD-4: 65 mph in three to four foot waves! This 1960s concept Boeing Aqua-Jet is truly a display of power (with its mounted airplane jet engine), featuring true aerodynamic shape:

(images via)

Nazi's Earliest Hydroplane Boats Certainly a part of "wonder weapons" developed during the War (read our article Wonder Weapons of World War Two), these hydrofoil attack boat projects began in the 1930s and continued into the late 1944. Among them were such fantastic prototypes as this turbojethydrofoil hybrid:

"Designated the TR-5b, the futuristic Tragflugelboot concept called for the addition of twin turbojets to be added to a VS- type hydrofoil to create a high-speed, heavily-armed hydrofoil fast attack craft. The turbojets (two Jumo 004s or He S 011s) were to be mated to the hydrofoil to allow a drastic increase of speed during the final attack phase and disengagement of enemy vessels." The 1950s concept of a fast hydrofoil "Wendell Schnellschiff" was built based on reduced-scale TR-5b idea; the vessel is preserved in the Deutsches Schiffahrtmuseum in Bremerhaven, Germany:

(images via)

Other hydrofoil prototypes included VS-6 (designed by aforementioned Baron von Schertel) and Tietjens VS-7 (designed by another hydrofoil pioneer, Professor Oscar Tietjens) - some of these concepts were first tested as far back as 1932, with working boats built in 1941 - more info:

"In 1943, the 80-ton VS-8 was launched. This relatively large hydrofoil was 150 ft. long and was designed to carry tanks and supplies to support Rommel's North African campaign":

American NAVY hydrofoils: "High Point" and "Plainview" In the 1960s, many countries developed military hydrofoils. The US Navy and Boeing developed the first Jetfoil, known as the Patrol Hydrofoil Missileship (PHM), which was the ancestor of the Jetski. They also developed a commercial passenger version of the vessel. Heres the Boeing Jetfoil (left image below):

(image via)

The USS Pegasus dates from the mid-seventies:

image credit: Naval Histo

ry and He

ritage Command L-File, via)320-ton hydrofoil vessel Plainview designs first appeared in 1961, then in 196

the ship was built and made its first hydrofoil "flight", but after many years of tweaking the original concept, it eventual

ly f el

ctim to the ngress ional budget knife in 1984 (more info):(images via)3K SES was a "Surface Effect" giant vessel concept from 1979... with projected 3000 ton weight and speed of 100 ts i n kno high seas, and vertical missile launch capability - more info:

(art by Robert Sherman; image via)

US military also was interested in hydrofoil landing craft ideas. Here is an experimental US Navy LVH model, designed by Lycoming Division of AVCO:

... which was soon followed by LVHX-I and LVHX-2:

Soviet Army hydrofoils: from Floating Tanks to "Flying Submarine" Destroyers

This Soviet military hydrofoil boat was used in the 1970s:

(image credit: Tekhnika Molodezhi, 1988)

Here is the hydrofoil-equipped car, NAMI-055B, designed in 1961:

The idea of a floating tank also occured to Russian engineers. Here is a 1960 concept for a floating hydrofoil tank, using T-54 tank on top:

Rocket-Launcher-Hydrofoil-Submarine Boat! Project 1231 was conceived and ordered into concept development in 1962: this was the ultimate Soviet Super Boat: it could "fly over waves" with its automatically adjusted hydrofoils, PLUS it could submerge - and turn into a submarine with a range of 350 miles (It could stay underwater for 48 hours):

Some of the more interesting modern hydrofoil designs

Today, hydrofoils are found all around the world, where they have proved popular and reliable. For the Golden Age of High-Speed Passenger Hydrofoils in Russia, see our in-depth article Soviet "Raketa" Hydrofoils. Other countries produced similar machines, though in not significantly great numbers. This 95 foot long Foilcat hydrofoil assisted catamaran also seats 150 and operates in Hawaii. This is a "low-flying" catamaran, supported by fully-submerged foils, built in 1992:

(images via 1, )

Another "Foil Cat", this time designed in Norway by Kvaerner-Fjellstrand in 1991:

(images via)

Here is a modern hydrofoil "aliscafo" passenger boat, seen in Italy, in all its glory:

(image credit: Dottoresso)

Modern "Victorian-Styled" Hydrofoil boat wFoil 18 Albatross is currently in the stages of fund-raising by wFoil company. It can be powered wither by detachable aircraft, or motorcycle engine, or even by sail - with the maximum speed of up to 90mph.

(images via)

"The craft are staggeringly fuel efficient with initial testing showing that 7-10 litres of fuel per hour can keep the wFoil moving consistently at 40 knots. The unique spruce wood hull consists of 3,200 feet of laser processed strips." The company plans to organize classic racing series with twelve units in production.

(image via)

And we finish with a totally outrageous concept, which is more like a joke: why not attach the whole Boeing plane to hydrofoils? (thus repurposing old passenger planes into 240 km/hr "rockets") Here is what the resulting monster may look like:

(image via)

With romantic names like "Stormbringer", "Sputnik", "Comet" and "Meteor", these were true rockets of the riverways We already wrote at length about fantastic Soviet Ekranoplans, but today we have a special treat for you. The Rockets of the Riverways! Swift and streamlined, like soaring seagulls or flitting swallows, these gracefully poised, surging arrows (all these descriptions were also reflected in their names) - these beautiful high-speed, high-passenger-capacity hydrofoils were the pride and joy of the Soviet Union in the 1960s-1980s. And then... the industry experienced a prolonged slump, with fewer and fewer of these machine in use on the Russian waterways today. We will see some incredibly poetic and, yes, sad photos of the abandoned hydrofoils further in this article.

But first, there was the Golden Age of "Rocket" Hydrofoils - white, loud, powerful vessels, some of which reached the speeds of 150 km/hr, and could carry more than 300 passengers. Perhaps the most beautiful high-speed hydrofoil vessel of them all: the Burevestnik (Stormbringer), with two airplane turbine engines on the sides:

(image via)

The cabins of these vessels were styled like the 1950s cars, with less chrome finish but similarly streamlined shapes:

In this rare photograph we can see them in the Port of Odessa on the Black Sea, back in 1984:

Here are two of these beauties sitting in the port, looking, for all we know, like the Japanese Shinkansen bullet trains! -

All aboard! Here is a good side view of "The Meteor":

Some of the surviving dashboards:

A Smorgasbord of Lovely Hydrofoil Models There was quite a variety of passenger hydrofoil models during the 1960s-1980s (Soviet Union certainly made lots of them: in all, more than 3,000 hydrofoil vessels were in use in Russia and Ukraine) Most of them were designed and built by Rostislav Alekseev and his Bureau in the city of Gorky (Nizhny Novgorod) on the Volga river. Below you can see the commemorative portrait of Alekseev and a monument to him (right image below):

The "Rocket" (Raketa) was the first Soviet passenger hydrofoil vessel designed in 1957 by the "Red Sormovo" Central Design Bureau (production lasted until the mid-1970s). This vessel was soon followed by compact hydrofoil boat design "Volga" (awarded the Gold Medal at the Brussels Exhibition) - really just a rescue motorboat sporting hydrofoils.

First "Raketa" was seen in Moscow in 1957 during the International Youth Festival. "Raketas" immediately became very popular, and even Nikita Khruschev famously said "Enough of stumbling around rivers in some rusty tubs. Let's travel in style!".

Soon the "Raketa" name became synonymous with all ships of this type, regardless of their model names. "Let's take Raketa on a weekend, shall we?" could be often heard on Moscow River, Volga River, Ladoga Lake, etc.

(images via)

The Era of "Meteors" The "Meteor" (built from 1961 to 1991) was used for river navigation (his near-twin "Kometa" was used for the sea routes), was faster than "Raketa" and could accommodate 160 passengers. In total, almost four hundred "Raketa" vessels were built, and more than four hundred "Meteors"! Quite a number... "Meteors" were favorite with families for short cruises to a favorite "secluded" beach spot, like this one (what a beautiful lake landscape, too!):

Here are some rare 1970s photographs of a "Meteor" on Volga river:

"Meteors" were also successfully used for the river cruises in St.Petersburg:

(image via)

"Kometa" (The Comet) was the sea-going variation of the "Meteor". A total of 86 were built in Feodosiya shipyard between 1964-1981, including 34 for export - plus during 1962-1992, thirty nine "Comets" were built in the Poti shipyards.

(photo by A. Veselov)

Here is a "Kometa" steaming toward the Valaam islands (an archipelago in the Lake Ladoga):

"Kometa" came on the scene in 1961 and boasted top speed of 70 km/hr. Here is a colorful version from 1973:

"Voskhod" (The Sunrise) was built to replace the aging fleet of "Kometas" and "Meteors" (first one built in 1973, 150 vessels in total). "Sunrise" was also exported to eighteen other countries, particularly to Canada, Vietnam, China, Netherlands, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Thailand, Turkey.

(image credit: Ivan90)

Newly designed "Katran-M" and a larger hydrofoil vessel "Vostok", designed by the Seatech firm:

(image via)

Built as "Kometa-44" in 1979, this one now is used in Turkey as "Ege Princess":

(images credit: Frank Behrends, via)

"Stormbringer" is arguably the most beautiful river vessel ever produced! Futuristic, romantic, surging into the future! "Burevestnik" (Stormbringer) was a masterpiece of industrial design, and was an incredible treat to ride on, or simply observe it roaring along pristine Russian (mostly quiet) waterways:

High speed vessel "Burevestnik" (also called "gazo-turbokhod", as it ran on turboshaft-gas-turbine type engine) was used along the Volga river during 1964-1979:

(on the right is the smaller "Belarus", seating 40 people)

The mighty "Burevestnik" sported two IL-18 airplane engines on its sides... It was used on Kuibyshev-Ulyanov-Kazan-Gorky lines on the Volga river; the only surviving ship was dismantled for scrap in 1993; such a shame! -

There was also 1962 "Sputnik" (the Satellite): similarly imposing, powerful vessel (4x850hp engines), capable of taking almost 300 passengers! Certainly a record... "Vikhr" (the Whirlwind) was its seagoing version:

Chaika (the Seagull) was a very distinctively shaped prototype; only one vessel was made, but it served for two years on the riverways:

It only carried 30 passengers, but boasted faster speed of 100 km/hr:

The streamlined "Olympia" designed by Matveev Bureau:

Also by Matveev Bureau is this "Katran" hydrofoil:

From "Morskoi Flot" magazine, 1973: the Comet's captain and "Kometa-7" docked for maintenance in Sochi:

Even today, these formidable in shape and power boats look truly inspiring, working the waterways as cruise ships, or super yacht conversions:

(image via)

"Cyclone" is a modern impressive "double-decker" hydrofoil ship, which is currently used in Crimea (on the right is surviving "Kometa", seen in Sochi):

Significantly less known and rarely remembered are Taifun (Typhoon) and its Strela (Arrow) incarnation:

... and don't forget Lastochka (the Little Swallow):

This Kolkhida model from the early nineties seats 150 passengers (more info):

Current Condition of Surviving 1960s-1980s Vessels: Not Good. Definitely, not good (with rare exception) Today some of these ships are kept in pretty miserable conditions, some are abandoned, some waiting on their chance for some private river tour company to rescue them:

Seriously amazing sight: retired "heroes of the riverways", rusting away in the autumn forest - near Kama Reservoir (Zaoszerskaya shipyards, near Perm):

(images credit: Ratmir)

Is it now a restaurant? A forlorn "Sputnik", seen in Port of Samara:

One of the "Meteors" was converted into a bar in the city of Kanev, Ukraine:

And here we see the whole industrial yard covered with them:

These were spotted in Valaam Bay (left) and totally abandoned somewhere in Kazakhstan:

Some are transformed into super-yachts, like this one in Krasnoyarsk:

(image via)

These "Meteors" are still in good use (photo taken in 2010 in Cherepovets):

And this river tour company uses a restored "Raketa" vessel with great effect:

This one ended up in China (in Chang Jiang):

(image credit: Peter)

Welcome on board of the Soviet River Time Machine! Here are some impressive approach shots of these vessels, currently used in the Gulf of Finland:

(image via)

And finally, very poetic shot - a "Meteor", gliding over the quiet waters... -

(image credit: Ivan90)

Lean, Mean "Wave-Gliding" Machines "Gliding over the waves of chaos, betrayed by time..." --Imai Hisashi, Divine Wind

... And from the same poem, "Like a razor jumping from one thing to another skilfully above the night; Like a spider spinning its silver shimmering thread"... These modern hydrofoil concepts are visually exciting and often sensational, perhaps even more so than modern concept cars:

(here is a deceptively simple all-carbon Hydrofoil Kite Wakesurfer)

Modern Italian Design + RetroFuturism Style + Great Efficiency Italian designer Guillermo Sureda-Burgos is a world-renowned stylist who expertly creates new concepts for underwater transportation, as well as some striking furniture and appliances. He teaches advanced computer graphics at the Industrial Design Department of the Art Institute at Fort Lauderdale and Canary Islands. His vision of the high-speed "Surface Craft" aims to replace the current use of business jets along busy coastal areas. This version comfortably fits four passengers.

(images credit: Guillermo Sureda-Burgos, exclusively for Dark Roasted Blend)

Guillermo's idea of replacing business jet travel with this boat might seem a little far-fetched; but surely, perhaps he can succeed in recreational boating? His boat will be competing with the likes of the Pininfarina's recent Hydrofoil Sailing Yacht (capable of reaching 32 knots; more info).

(image via)

Fabulous "Personal Submersible Vehicles" Now, let's see something really exciting! These so-called "dry-pressurized" submarines have a passenger compartment kept at sea-level pressure; the space between the compartment and the outer hydrodynamic skin is meant to be flooded with seawater while submerged. The submersible's layout is similar to the standard seating arrangement of a passenger automobile. XS100 Duo seats two and XS100 Trio seats three submariners (intrepid ocean explorers). The intended market would include luxury yacht and resort owners who are bored of a luxury yacht and want to try something different (the price of a two-passenger model for a target depth 100 meters is close to a limited production exotic sports car, i. e. around 400,000. With higher production, prices could come down to 150,000). The sub's eye-catching design seem to be inspired by the "Shark Fin" Chrome style of the 1950s: XS100 Duo Beta Personal Submersible:

XS100 Trio Alpha Personal Submersible:

Looking forward, Guillermo hopes to combine such personal submersibles with a true hydrofoil high-speed mode. Definitely something to watch for! Other Inspired, Sleek Hydrofoil Concepts Futuristic (1973) hydrofoil concepts designed by Luigi Colani:

(image credit: Luigi Colani)

Turbo: Hydrofoil Daysailor is a design by Seattle-based artist and designer Michael Schacht, largely influenced by Luigi Colani's style:

(image via)

Interflight Hydrofoiler was an experimental no-emission personal hydrofoil:

The hydrofoil concept KTM Barracuda "keeps water-contact at all times, due to a combination of front wing flaps and the vector thrust from the propeller":

(images via)

Here is a Quadrofoil Electric Vehicle / Powered Hydrofoil Concept by Matris Design: created by three Slovenian designers, it was presented at the Slovenias Internautica Exhibition (more info):

(images via)

The Wind-powered Hydrofoil? Sure, why not, here is a Kitesurfer, designed by Jiwon Jung in 2010 (more info):

(image via)

And then, there is a Xi Super yacht, designed by Jan Gielens - a true object of art, with evocative UFO-like shape (more info):

(image credit: Jan Gielens)

Its specially trimmed wings and hydrofoils (for better maneuverability) remind us of Art Deco 1930s aerodynamic cars:

(image credit: Jan Gielens)

Inspired by F1 cars, industrial designer Dan Baretich created the Formula-Foil 1 concept (left), while on the right you see imaginary future hydrofoil super yachts:

(images via)

The Dolphin Hydrofoil personal hydrofoil was conceptualized by Nikko Van Stolk. At high speed, this craft almost appears to be flying above the water rather than skipping across the surface:

(images credit: Nikko Van Stolk)

This is a futuristic Nereus kite surfing hydrofoil boat (which can even dive for a short submerged periods), designed by Mathius Koelher:

(more info)

And check out this Looker 350, a Russian-built hydrofoil-assisted high-speed glass-bottom boat:

(image via)

Mother Russia: still in love with the "Wing-in-Ground" effect When we prepared Part 1 of Ekranoplan Showcase, we could not fit all the great material on one page, so consider this as an addendum to the fascinating subject of Soviet ekranoplans - a beast born during the Cold War and still employed today by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia. Here is a fantastic picture of how this technology may have looked in a heavily armed edition:

(art by Scott Robertson, via, click to enlarge)

Ekranoplan "Alekseyev A-90 Orlyonok", photo by Ilya Morozov, via

Here is a helpful chart of all ekranoplan models:

(image credit: "Science & Vie")

Incredible futuristic rendering of a proposed passenger and cargo behemoth:

images credit: "TM" magazine, Russia, 1974

"Orlyonok" Ekranoplan - rare view from the inside This particular machine has been explored by good people from Avia Gorizont, with many views of the cargo bay made for military

vehicles. There were sightings of a similar ekranoplan still used on Lake Baykal by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia.

Ekranoplan "Orlyonok" (left) and the "Astrakhan" concept (right), images via

An exclusive look inside this machine shows impressive amount of cargo space and a typical Soviet spartan interior:

(images credit: Avia Gorizont)

Beriev's Wonder Machines: A Heavy Ekranoplan Concept Be-2500 is a heavy ekranoplan concept that is simply stunning in its design - seemingly random placement of wing surfaces and engines - which looks only as weird as any other model coming out of Beriev Design Bureau.

(images via)

The "2500" in the model's number refers to aircraft's weight - 2500 tons; it boasts six engines and the ability to cross the Atlantic or the Pacific oceans with a "wing-in-ground" speed of 450 km/h.

(images via)

I want that for my kid's playground Also something of a weird number, is the Bartini Beriev, VVA-14, which can be observed in a pretty gutted condition on a Russian airfield in Monino: still a curious sight for photographers and explorers -

(image credit: Omar Alex Saffe)

(image credit: Fyodor Borisov)

(images via 1, 2)

(image credit: Slava Babayevski)

See a lot more images here VVA-14 used WIG effect only during a take-off, so it is not a true "ekranoplan" but rather an "ekrano-plane". However, it enjoyed a decent production run, and Soviet Army even had certain "glamorous" plans for it: "Such a vehicle was initially seen as urgently needed to destroy US Navy Polaris missile submarines" - more info.

Ekranoplan + Shuttle These concepts were created in hopes to use the Earth's oceans for space launches: keep in mind that launching close to equator allows for 1.7 - 2 times heavier payload. The Sea-Launch project is already in full swing (facilitating vertical launches), however for the Shuttlelike horizontal launches and landings, Russian engineers propose to use a fleet of heavy ekranoplans:

(image by G. F. Petrov, click to enlarge)

More glimpses of launching system concepts - some are outrageous, all interesting:

Winged "WIG" Curiosities Some variations on "wing-in-ground" effect sometimes led to curious contraptions... Check out this "water wing": looks like a bumpy ride -

(image credit: ModernMechanix)

Another interesting streamlined variation is the Seagull Boat, 1933:

(image credit: ModernMechanix)

Compact ekranoplans: among them is a German-made 1977 LippischX-114:

Yet another futuristic idea - the Ionocraft Granted, this method of flying has little relation to WIG effect used by ekranoplans, but perhaps it is just as fascinating and just as rarely considered today. One concept proposed by Russians (and seen here in a rare picture from "TM" Soviet technology magazine) would use ionic air propulsion to lift itself and a significant payload off the ground.

image via TM Magazine, 1965

This is a strange way to fly, for sure, using high-voltage capacitors and the Biefeld-Brown Effect in the corona wire. Who knows, maybe we'll see the development of such a craft in the future (although it does seem like a hazardous structure in the concept shown above) A bizarre cross between a hovercraft and an airplane, developed during Cold War They hover and skim above the water surface at speeds of up to 250 miles an hour, they carry heavier loads of cargo and troops than any airplane - the Ekranoplans, or "Wing-in-Ground" (WIG) vehicles are possibly the most exciting and strange looking technology ever designed by men. Developed mostly by Soviets during Cold Wars years (by Rostislav Alexeev's design firm) some of them were over 500 feet in length and

had an estimated weight of over 500 tons! And yet they skimmed over the waves with grace, at high speeds, able to negotiate stormy conditions, unseen by radar - all thanks to an aerodynamic principle known as the "ground effect". All pilots are familiar with this effect: when an airplane is about to land, it almost wants to "float" on air, moments before touchdown. The compressed air between the wing and the ground becomes a "cushion" that gives the plane smooth gliding ability. Over the sea surface this effect is even more noticeable. 1. KM - Russian "Caspian Sea Monster" Ekranoplan

It was the biggest ground-effect vehicle ever designed (100 meters long, weight: 544 tons, powered by ten Dobryin VD-7 turbojet engines). It still holds the record for lifting the heaviest load off the ground (more even than the largest modern cargo plane Antonov An 225 "Mriya" can handle). It also had an air of mystery around it for a long time, tested in secrecy on the Caspian Sea in 1966 and spied on by a US satellite.

Although only one KM (Russian abbreviation for prototype ship) has been built, there were several variations, differing in length and weight. All were intimidating and weird looking, designed to use the ground effect to skim the ocean at high speed, undetected by radar. According to military sources, the Soviet government planned to built 100 of these monsters at the height of Cold War, then the number went down to 24.

(Images source: The WIG Page and Samolet)

After an accidental crash (due mostly to poor visibility in the fog), KM was abandoned in a shallow 20 meters of water, thwarting all efforts to recover it because of its weight; its high tail sticking out of the water like a funeral cross. The next model to take its place will be "Orlenok" - a medium-sized ekranoplan suitable for military transportation duties.

SM-8 (smaller version of KM). 2. An Impressive A-90 "Orlyonok" ("Eaglet")

"The 140 tonne, 58 meter long aircraft had its maiden flight in 1972. The A-90 boasted two turbojets and one turboprop engine which propelled it to a speed of 400 km/h for 1,500 km at an cruise altitude of 5-10 m." Source: warlib.ru It could travel over land, if need be, and in rather spectacular fashion:

(images credit: A. Belyaev, The WIG Page)

It could carry 150 troops and 2 tanks (or rather, BTR-60), as evidenced by this picture:

(image credit: Airforce.ru)

The Soviet military planned to built 20 such vehicles, creating a whole new division in the Baltic Sea. The aircraft has been supplied to the military in 1979, and three A-90s reportedly were still operational in 1993. However, a couple of crashes prevented the full deployment; one crash was especially spectacular. The craft lost a whole tail section after striking a wave, but proved to be air-worthy enough to make it "gliding" to the shore. This amazing feat still did not impress the generals enough, and the program was mothballed. UPDATE: "Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the plant responsible for building the Orlyonoks has been privatised. Now called the Volga Shipyard, the Orlyonok is apparently still being developed as a commercial search and rescue craft. In fact, it appears that the Orlyonok can be ordered in either cargo-carrying (50 tons with a 1500km range) or in passenger carrying (30 people and a 3000km range) versions - the yard lists it as a production model!" (source) 3. Strange intermediate designs: VVA-14M "VVA-14M" ekranoplan was essentially a conversion from the very strange-looking plane "VVA-14". Here it's seen before the conversion:

and after, cruising over water:

(image credit: Ronald Wong, The WIG Page)

4. "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."

(image courtesy: Paul McDonell)

It's actually bigger than Boeing 747! Size comparison:

(image credit: Peter C Losi - United States Air Force)

What's more, it was equipped with unparalleled to this day ZM-80 "Moskit" (SS-N-22 Sunburn) supersonic rockets, capable of sinking any enemy ship. This machine would've been a formidable threat to NATO if not for the sudden collapse of the Soviet Union. Insufficient funds for continuation of research and the overall decline had sunk this project altogether, even though some efforts have been made to

convert "Lun / Spasatel" into a sea rescue vessel.

(images source: Airwar.ru)

Here is the "Spasatel" civilian version:

(image source)

Another interesting concept which almost made it into production:

All these and other variations of Russian ekranoplans you can see in this long video (10 minutes of great & rare footage):
(link)

That video also shows the current sad condition of Russian giant "Lun" craft, stored at the Kaspiysk naval base... Maybe some kind of a "crazy scientist" or an investor will turn out on eBay, pay the minimum bid and put this thing to use again??

The "swan song" of Rostislav Alexeev, the last considered concept was the "Rocket-2" river cruise ship design:

(art by A. Sukhov, courtesy rosevg.org)

---------------AMERICAN WINGSHIPS Steven Hooker, an aeronautical engineer, first observed the Caspian Monster in 1967 and went on to establish the "Aerocon" company - with a dream of making "wingship" ten times bigger, and truly trans-oceanic in range. Here is the proposed Aerocon Wingship concept

from 1984: (it is the size of twelve Boeing 747's !) "Atlantis - 1":

Image courtesy: Popular Science

It still remains to be seen whether this gargantuan ship is going to be built; but for now US NAVY is considering another prototype: Boeing Ultra Pelican American (belated) answer to the "Caspian Sea Monster"

Look at the size of that conceptual boat, or rather "Large Transport Aircraft" - it can easily carry 1,400 tons (as many as 17 tanks plus a few hundred soldiers) to distances over 16,000 km. This spectacular machine will have wingspan of 106 meters (about 350 feet) and length of 152 meters (longer than a football field). The craft would be 10 times faster than any modern container ship.

"The vessel will be able to travel in ground-effect at a height of about 20 feet above the water surface for its most economical mode of operation, but will also be capable of entering free-flight and flying at an altitude of 20,000 feet."
Sources: foxxaero, Popular Science, Boeing

If this craft's development proceeds unimpeded, then the military dream of "deployment of one division in five days anywhere in the world" would be realized. You can run but you can't hide. The Wingship's potential for strategic lift is almost unlimited. What's more, its operating efficiency (delivering cargo per consumed fuel) is 44% better than modern cargo airplanes!

Wingship is an achievable technology, and even if a smaller but successful prototype will be built (perhaps with Russian / American cooperation?) - it might open a new era in transportation, the exciting blend of sea and air travel. For now, we only see larger and larger cruise ships and airliners being built, without much consideration for operating efficiency.
Further reading: 1, 2, 3 The best web resource available about WIG craft is The WIG Page. See many models there, and some most unusual concepts.

New Concept of Ocean-Going Catamaran Is Being Tested

The story so far has an element of mystery: The weird boat was first sighted coming out of the fog and docking at the Port of Ilwaco on the Washington State coast. Soon the first pictures began to circulate on the internet (mostly by email) with the following text: "An entirely unheard-of, twin-hulled watercraft with no markings is photographed by a bystander in the Port of Ilwaco on the Washington State coast. Those guarding it refuse to answer questions about what it is, or where it came from." It was suggested it may be something Boeing is working on. The pontoons appear to be made of very thick rubber and may be fuel cells. Note that each of the steel spider-like legs are jointed in three places. Perhaps the boat can be lowered in calm seas and raised when it is rough. The boat had no name or number..." (Source and more pics here)

Then Urban Legends site picked up the story investigating if it's a myth or not. More sightings were made of the boat (in San Francisco Bay and around Anacortes), and their conclusion was: "The pictures are authentic and reveal the prototype of an inflatable power catamaran designed by Antrim Associates based on a concept by oceanographer Ugo Conti. According to Yachting Monthly, the experimental vessel is 100 feet long and 50 feet wide and powered by twin diesel engines mounted to the rear of the inflatable pontoon hulls. The cabin is suspended on flexible legs about 15 feet above and between the hulls, allowing them to glide independently over the service of the water. It is capable of crossing oceans with as much, if not more, stability than a normal catamaran."

If this concept proves worthy, then we may witness the evolution of conventional boat shape into something entirely different (think along the "War of the Worlds" spidery lines). US Navy has explored catamaran shape before. Below are the pictures of a huge ship, "HSV 2 Swift", a high-speed catamaran used today for mine countermeasures and as a sea-based test platform. It proved to be really fast and reliable vessel.

Also check out the previous creation from the company which built this "spider boat"

- "Tahiti Cat"