Have You ever seen or Heard...
By ShepherdSpy
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
Omagh, Northern Ireland
September 9, 2008 10:47pm CST
..of the "Caspian Sea Monster"?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/22/caspian_sea_monster/
This craft,technically a boat,or "Wingship",was designed to use "Ground effect" -in the 1960's!
(it's the phenomenon where an aircraft coming in to land before touchdown has an effective cushion of air beneath the wings which tends to support the aircraft's glide down the runway)-Pelicans and other seabirds use the effect when flying over water..The original Development was for Soviet Military Applications,and has been taken up by other enterprises following the end of the cold war..Theoretically,Such craft are more cost effective and fuel efficient than Conventional aircraft when cruising,and being technically boats or ships,don't need runways to take off from..Various prototypes are undergoing testing,and one of the smaller version was being put into use as an inter-Island taxi service in the Caribbean..the Movie footage (see links) of the Original "KM" Machine,one of the largest flying machines ever built,is impressive..Do You think there could be a future for these craft? Thanks for responses!
(it's the phenomenon where an aircraft coming in to land before touchdown has an effective cushion of air beneath the wings which tends to support the aircraft's glide down the runway)-Pelicans and other seabirds use the effect when flying over water..The original Development was for Soviet Military Applications,and has been taken up by other enterprises following the end of the cold war..Theoretically,Such craft are more cost effective and fuel efficient than Conventional aircraft when cruising,and being technically boats or ships,don't need runways to take off from..Various prototypes are undergoing testing,and one of the smaller version was being put into use as an inter-Island taxi service in the Caribbean..the Movie footage (see links) of the Original "KM" Machine,one of the largest flying machines ever built,is impressive..Do You think there could be a future for these craft? Thanks for responses!2 responses
@frankiecesca (2489)
•
10 Sep 08
It would be great if there was a future for them as it they really are more cost effective then it can only help matters at the moment with high fuel charges and the like! x
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
12 Nov 08
The Russian developments of these machines had military funding behind them,so that they were being designed as troop transports,heavy lift,fast response tank carriers,and missile equipped transports..Aside from still having military applications,Civilian uses for them being suggested were as coastguard vessels,cargo transports,and high capacity passenger transport..although designed to "float" above wave height,the (bigger than 747 sized) KM was capable of hops over large obstacles such as ships directly in it's path!
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
11 Sep 08
There are some videos of these things on Youtube that you could check out if interested..gliding would technically be unpowered flight..this principle would be closer to a hovercraft in operation..once the craft is on it's air cushion,it's almost floating,and needs power just to keep moving,not to float..the Engineer credited with the design of these machines was also behind the development of the Hydrofoil...
