Seaplane Resurgence?

In article . com,
(Jack Linthicum) wrote:

Here's a display of what it says is the latest on the Ekranoplans.
Since I was the guy who named them I consider the idea to be mine. I
would guess somewhere in the Russian realm or working a deli in
Brooklyn is someone who could explain why the Sovs chose the Caspian
for basing this bugger. No way out, no use except thrill rides,
pictures and exciting Western intelligence people.

Simple: someone had the idea, and said, reasonably enough, "Let's do the
development somewhere the sea - and land - are nice and flat."

Ekranoplans can fly over land if it's sufficiently flat and bereft of
buildings. The central Asian steppes are one of very few places that are
sufficiently large, flat and undeveloped that it makes any kind of
sense. The Soviet Union might even have had a practical use for such
vehicles at various points in its history. They're just no damn use
anywhere the sea gets seriously rough.

For an entertaining alternate-history SF story with Ekranoplans as a
significant plot element, see Charlie Stross' _Missile Gap_.

--
John Dallman, , HTML mail is treated as probable spam.

"Jack Linthicum" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Sep 29, 9:52 pm, Dan wrote:
Rob Arndt wrote:
On Sep 29, 6:04?pm, Eeyore
wrote:
Rob Arndt wrote:
The Soviet-era Ekranoplans were comparable to seaplanes
Not at all similar.

The Ekranoplans flew only in ground effect.

Graham

A technicality at best.

Ekranoplans are planes and are sea-based, so they are only a DIFFERENT
type of seaplane.

You can't call them flying ships- they are WIG aviation.

Rob

Oh, please, seaplanes can fly overland, fly at altitude, don't have
to go around islands, can fly over rough seas and a few other things
WIGs can't do. Even you should be able to see that, xenia.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

Here's a display of what it says is the latest on the Ekranoplans.
Since I was the guy who named them I consider the idea to be mine. I
would guess somewhere in the Russian realm or working a deli in
Brooklyn is someone who could explain why the Sovs chose the Caspian
for basing this bugger. No way out, no use except thrill rides,
pictures and exciting Western intelligence people.


Probably for a similar reason that in the UK a flooded quarry in Somerset
was the site for testing Sonar kit. No way out ... or in ! Isn't that the
raison d'etre for Area 51?

--

Brian

On 30 Wrz, 03:04, Eeyore
wrote:
Rob Arndt wrote:
The Soviet-era Ekranoplans were comparable to seaplanes

Not at all similar.

The Ekranoplans flew only in ground effect.

Graham

ISTR (from a documentary I saw on them) Ekranoplanes ***almost***
always flew in ground effect, they could climb out of it if really
neccessary (lots of power, lots of wasted fuel) but it was possible.

guy

"Rob Arndt" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Sep 29, 5:40?pm, "Mark Test" wrote:
"Rob Arndt" wrote in message

oups.com...



On Sep 29, 5:02?pm, wrote:
In addition to the C-130 Seaplane project:


http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs...plckController...

It looks like other seaplane ideas are being studied as well:


http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs...plckController...


http://cisd.dt.navy.mil/div/cisd/fil...anes%20wo%20an...

Japan and the (Former) USSR never really gave up on seaplanes, but
will they now make a comeback in the US?

No- we have plenty of a/c carriers which Japan and the FSU/Russia
lack...

Seaplanes perform strike missions? (That's what CVN's do)

--
Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com- Hide
quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Yes, AFAIK, that IS what the plan has been for years with new seaplane
projects apart from pure transports- arm them with Harpoons and
torpedos and other ordnance.

Also, military seaplanes can perform recon, sea rescue (on a carrier
performed by a helo), ASW, etc... all of which carrier-based aviation
does better.

The Soviet-era Ekranoplans were comparable to seaplanes as well and
carried a range of missiles.

they must be quite the adventure in a heavy sea.