Ekranoplan

The Spasatel (Russian Спасатель - "The Savior" ) is a planned by the Soviet Ministry of Defense, at the time as "top secret" classified project of a ground effect vehicle. A ground effect vehicle uses the ground effect ( the resulting dynamic lift or downforce ) and flies close as opposed to water suitable flying boats on the water. Originally, it was to serve as carrier rockets of the project Lun, was then converted into rescue vehicle, but never completed.

Objectives

The military advantage of these machines against ships and submarines was that they had no depth in the operation and were therefore not covered by the sonar; against aircraft consisted of advantage in addition to the large payload in the low altitude, what the radar detection difficult.

This was particularly true during the Cold War and during his time the art an interesting opportunity to unobtrusively and quickly transport many people or a large cargo over long distances can. Today, this approach is technically obsolete due to higher fuel costs and better camouflage and detection techniques.

History

Originally it was to be built as a second missile carrier - ground effect vehicle. Once in an accident in 1989, the Soviet nuclear submarine Komsomolets sank, where 42 people were killed, this second car was rebuilt for use in sea rescue services, and would have up to 500 passengers can carry.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union the project like so many prestige projects was put on hold because they had given up the arms race of the Cold War and the funds were missing. The military operations at sea have been greatly reduced, so that reduced the application.

The Spasatel is completed in the superstructure and jackets completely and to 98 percent. After the bankruptcy of the Ekranoplan - work, the Spasatel was not scrapped, but - like the whole area - simply left in the state of production.

Presence

Even today, there is the unfinished Spasatel and waiting in an old industrial complex in Nizhny Novgorod on Resurrection. (2006 )

Advocate, lover and former employees of the plant are still working on the completion of the large ground effect vehicle. It is very difficult to procure components and machines, since this project is not official support and thus the access and production of Spasatel is very cost - and labor-intensive. This is the probability that the Spasatel ever "fly" is very low. All employees of the Spasatelprojektes today work on a voluntary basis.

Data

(The data are based on the first project and its experience )

( 243-297 knots) Maximum height: 20-100 km / h ( 10.8-54 knots)

Maximum height: 400 km

Flight: Unlimited

Up to 10 in trial runs

Comparable types

  • Lun - class ( military version, based on the Spasatel )
  • KM ( Ekranoplan )
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