Ekranoplan

I wanted to post about the Ekranoplan or sea skimmer for a long time, now luckily both English Russia and The Presurfer have brought up the topic, posting up pictures from the only "planeship" that was ever built, in a quite derelict state.

I prefer the original pictures from when this strange vehicle was commissioned in 1987. The Ekranoplan was larger than an airbus and could carry 6 cruise missiles. At top speed it would fly about 3 meters above water or ground, but it was a strictly sea-bound vehicle without landing gear. So i guess it was a weird mix between ship, hovercraft and plane, and after the end of the Cold War there was never a second one built.

Vincelewis.net: Russian Secret Project Exposed