The Return of the Ekranoplan

Using the ground effect, a massive ship could generate lift using air pressure to coast across the waves and travel as fast as an airplane. This was the principle that would have powered the Soviet Union’s secret project, the Caspian Sea Monster. Otherwise known as the Ekranoplan project, the great vehicle now lies abandoned on the coast of the Caspian Sea. But the project’s ambitions weren’t left forgotten.

The Liberty Lifter is the new ground effect vehicle being developed by The US Defense Department’s research arm, DARPA. Like a hovercraft, it travels across the water on a cushion of air made by traveling one wing length above the water, allowing it to move quickly and efficiently. Its massive size keeps it stable, and makes it less vulnerable to the movement of the waves.

Other ground effect vehicles include the Pelican, designed by the Boeing company, and the Spruce Goose, built by the millionaire Howard Hughes as the world’s biggest aircraft in the 1940s.

The Flying Ship Company is also currently developing a smaller ground effect vehicle than the Liberty Lifter. Their goal is to make a more commercially-focused cargo transport, to be used for shorter routes, such as between islands in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.

These projects are still under development, and will not be taking to the air until at least 2027. The future of maritime transportation might be in these ground effect vehicles.

Which one will be the first to take the title of the next Sea Monster?

[cliffwoodbury]

The ship shown is the LUN not the Caspain Sea Monster.

[pt]

The Soviets were not behind, they were just ahead of their time.

[indigenoussober]

I’d love to know why they chose to use Props instead of Turbines. Is it weight for a given performance envelope?

[doolittlegeorge]

*"Ground Effect Vehicle"* uniquely USSR invented none exist anywhere else than there to my knowledge with Singapore having attempted to create a Fleet of these. Putin Russia needs about 10, 000 of these right now today actually...but none be had apparently even in Russia. Shipping time across the Atlantic Ocean would be dramatically cut with the appearance of a Turbine engine powered ground effect vehicle depending upon Sea State of course. Also would be very effective upon around the North Pole Polar Region as could travel over properly mapped electronically and navigated frozen routes as well. All powered by natural gas.

[commonwombat-hr]

if only could trap the ground effect air in some sort of cover so that high pressure air won't escape from under the wing... Oh, and maybe add a downward fan in the middle to make the ground effect even stronger... Oh yes, such a vehicle already exists. It's called a hovercraft

[stevenevets]

I like the concept of ground effect vehicles but, what happens when a whale breaches in front of the "flying boat"?

[marshalllapenta]

Who is STEALING MY up submersible aircraft carriers....Followed by planes that can operate in the ocean....