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

Airplane graveyard

This Google Maps footage of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson has a nearly hypnotic quality to it. io9 liken it to modern-day Nazca lines, and provide a Google Streetview link as well.

Military Airplane Graveyard Resembles Modern Day Nazca Lines - Defense - io9

Jet engine blows away a truck

I didn't know that was possible: a 747 jet engine totally blows away a truck in this staged video.

Blame It On The Voices: 747 jet engine blows away a truck

Day at the beach

A pilot bailing out of his plane after an engine failure, at Lowestoft Air Show in 2002.

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Air show Harrier crashes into sea

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A very strange phenomenom on Google Trends, the ASCII art of a plane approaching the World Trade Center towers has reached "Volcanic" activity.

Search Engine Land: Google Trends Features ASCII Art Of 9/11