OT: Strangely interesting article

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I

Ian Rawlings

Guest
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/22/caspian_sea_monster/

Honking great big semi-flying machines that were designed to fly about
10 metres above the sea surface, using reflected air as a cushion.
Includes links to videos and is fascinating. Some odd looking but
impressive machinery. Even has some spy shots from Google Earth
showing that some of these things are still out there in various
Chinese or Russian bases.

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!
 

"Ian Rawlings" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/22/caspian_sea_monster/
:
: Honking great big semi-flying machines that were designed to fly about
: 10 metres above the sea surface, using reflected air as a cushion.
: Includes links to videos and is fascinating. Some odd looking but
: impressive machinery. Even has some spy shots from Google Earth
: showing that some of these things are still out there in various
: Chinese or Russian bases.

havent looked at the link, but do you mean an ekranoplan? there is a chap in
se london with an awesome model of one (rc)

Si


 
On 2006-09-22, GrnOval <[email protected]> wrote:

> havent looked at the link, but do you mean an ekranoplan? there is a chap in
> se london with an awesome model of one (rc)

That's the one, never heard of one before, or not that I remember
anyway. The video is worth watching, 10 min documentary with lots of
"flying" shots.

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!
 
GrnOval wrote:
> "Ian Rawlings" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> : http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/22/caspian_sea_monster/
> :
> : Honking great big semi-flying machines that were designed to fly about
> : 10 metres above the sea surface, using reflected air as a cushion.
> : Includes links to videos and is fascinating. Some odd looking but
> : impressive machinery. Even has some spy shots from Google Earth
> : showing that some of these things are still out there in various
> : Chinese or Russian bases.
>
> havent looked at the link, but do you mean an ekranoplan? there is a chap in
> se london with an awesome model of one (rc)
>
> Si
>
>

Yes
 

"GrnOval" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Ian Rawlings" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> : http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/22/caspian_sea_monster/
> :
> : Honking great big semi-flying machines that were designed to fly about
> : 10 metres above the sea surface, using reflected air as a cushion.
> : Includes links to videos and is fascinating. Some odd looking but
> : impressive machinery. Even has some spy shots from Google Earth
> : showing that some of these things are still out there in various
> : Chinese or Russian bases.
>
> havent looked at the link, but do you mean an ekranoplan? there is a chap
in
> se london with an awesome model of one (rc)
>

Also known as WIGE (Wing In Ground Effect) craft I believe. I have no idea
if that's pronounced "wig", "wiggy" or "widge"! Takes shed loads of oomph
to get them going but once they're on the cushion you can switch almost
everything off and they'll stay up on a mouse fart.


 
On Fri, 22 Sep 2006 23:25:21 +0100, Steve <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
> "GrnOval" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> "Ian Rawlings" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> : http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/22/caspian_sea_monster/
>> :
>> : Honking great big semi-flying machines that were designed to fly about
>> : 10 metres above the sea surface, using reflected air as a cushion.
>> : Includes links to videos and is fascinating. Some odd looking but
>> : impressive machinery. Even has some spy shots from Google Earth
>> : showing that some of these things are still out there in various
>> : Chinese or Russian bases.
>>
>> havent looked at the link, but do you mean an ekranoplan? there is a
>> chap
> in
>> se london with an awesome model of one (rc)
>>
>
> Also known as WIGE (Wing In Ground Effect) craft I believe. I have no
> idea
> if that's pronounced "wig", "wiggy" or "widge"! Takes shed loads of
> oomph
> to get them going but once they're on the cushion you can switch almost
> everything off and they'll stay up on a mouse fart.

Anyone ever built a model?

--
William Tasso

Land Rover - 110 V8
Discovery - V8
 
On 2006-09-22, Steve <[email protected]> wrote:

> Also known as WIGE (Wing In Ground Effect) craft I believe. I have no idea
> if that's pronounced "wig", "wiggy" or "widge"! Takes shed loads of oomph
> to get them going but once they're on the cushion you can switch almost
> everything off and they'll stay up on a mouse fart.

On the video clip they show one leaping off a ramp into the sea after
already picking up the required speed, given the size of the things,
quite scary.

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!
 
In message <[email protected]>
Ian Rawlings <[email protected]> wrote:

> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/22/caspian_sea_monster/
>
> Honking great big semi-flying machines that were designed to fly about
> 10 metres above the sea surface, using reflected air as a cushion.
> Includes links to videos and is fascinating. Some odd looking but
> impressive machinery. Even has some spy shots from Google Earth
> showing that some of these things are still out there in various
> Chinese or Russian bases.
>

There's a TV documentary about these which is fascinating - only
it has stupid title something like "Dragons That Fly" or whatever.
Well worth a look when it's repeated.

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
www.radioparadise.com - Good Music, No Vine
Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive
 

"William Tasso" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:eek:[email protected]...
: On Fri, 22 Sep 2006 23:25:21 +0100, Steve <[email protected]>
: wrote:
:
: >
: > "GrnOval" <[email protected]> wrote in message
: > news:[email protected]...
: >>
: >> "Ian Rawlings" <[email protected]> wrote in message
: >> news:[email protected]...
: >> : http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/22/caspian_sea_monster/
: >> :
: >> : Honking great big semi-flying machines that were designed to fly
about
: >> : 10 metres above the sea surface, using reflected air as a cushion.
: >> : Includes links to videos and is fascinating. Some odd looking but
: >> : impressive machinery. Even has some spy shots from Google Earth
: >> : showing that some of these things are still out there in various
: >> : Chinese or Russian bases.
: >>
: >> havent looked at the link, but do you mean an ekranoplan? there is a
: >> chap
: > in
: >> se london with an awesome model of one (rc)
: >>
: >
: > Also known as WIGE (Wing In Ground Effect) craft I believe. I have no
: > idea
: > if that's pronounced "wig", "wiggy" or "widge"! Takes shed loads of
: > oomph
: > to get them going but once they're on the cushion you can switch almost
: > everything off and they'll stay up on a mouse fart.
:
: Anyone ever built a model?

yep

http://www.flankerman.fsnet.co.uk/ekran_144.htm

Proper shop bought kits!

Si


 

"William Tasso" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:eek:[email protected]...
: On Fri, 22 Sep 2006 23:25:21 +0100, Steve <[email protected]>
: wrote:
:
: >
: > "GrnOval" <[email protected]> wrote in message
: > news:[email protected]...
: >>
: >> "Ian Rawlings" <[email protected]> wrote in message
: >> news:[email protected]...
: >> : http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/22/caspian_sea_monster/
: >> :
: >> : Honking great big semi-flying machines that were designed to fly
about
: >> : 10 metres above the sea surface, using reflected air as a cushion.
: >> : Includes links to videos and is fascinating. Some odd looking but
: >> : impressive machinery. Even has some spy shots from Google Earth
: >> : showing that some of these things are still out there in various
: >> : Chinese or Russian bases.
: >>
: >> havent looked at the link, but do you mean an ekranoplan? there is a
: >> chap
: > in
: >> se london with an awesome model of one (rc)
: >>
: >
: > Also known as WIGE (Wing In Ground Effect) craft I believe. I have no
: > idea
: > if that's pronounced "wig", "wiggy" or "widge"! Takes shed loads of
: > oomph
: > to get them going but once they're on the cushion you can switch almost
: > everything off and they'll stay up on a mouse fart.
:
: Anyone ever built a model?

http://eleves.supaero.fr/club/euroavia/eages/previews/7-taylor.pdf#search="ekranoplan radio control"

and more of the RC variety

Si


 

"beamendsltd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:aab1c76a4e%[email protected]...
> In message <[email protected]>
> Ian Rawlings <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/22/caspian_sea_monster/
>>
>> Honking great big semi-flying machines that were designed to fly about
>> 10 metres above the sea surface, using reflected air as a cushion.
>> Includes links to videos and is fascinating. Some odd looking but
>> impressive machinery. Even has some spy shots from Google Earth
>> showing that some of these things are still out there in various
>> Chinese or Russian bases.
>>
>
> There's a TV documentary about these which is fascinating - only
> it has stupid title something like "Dragons That Fly" or whatever.
> Well worth a look when it's repeated.
>
> Richard
>
> --
> www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
> www.radioparadise.com - Good Music, No Vine
> Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive

I'm sure I've seen a proggy on TV (discovery?) about a civilain application
of the technology a very much smaller boat planned as a prototype for future
ferries
Derek


 
"Derek" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:uF7Rg.37180$wo3.31459@newsfe7-

> I'm sure I've seen a proggy on TV (discovery?) about a civilain
application
> of the technology a very much smaller boat planned as a prototype for
future
> ferries

If I remember correctly the argument is was that big ones could carry
freight around the world far faster than ships but far cheaper than air
freight. The down side is that anything which leaves the ground/sea is
subject to the huge regulatory burden of aircraft, which is what killed the
big hovercraft in the end.
Greg


 
Steve wrote:
> Also known as WIGE (Wing In Ground Effect) craft I believe. I have no idea
> if that's pronounced "wig", "wiggy" or "widge"! Takes shed loads of oomph
> to get them going but once they're on the cushion you can switch almost
> everything off and they'll stay up on a mouse fart.

The americans and their military used the existence of WIGE to try and
evade the patents on Hovercraft for many years, though they lost in the
end AFAIK.

Steve

 
In message <[email protected]>
"Greg" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "Derek" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:uF7Rg.37180$wo3.31459@newsfe7-
>
> > I'm sure I've seen a proggy on TV (discovery?) about a civilain
> application
> > of the technology a very much smaller boat planned as a prototype for
> future
> > ferries
>
> If I remember correctly the argument is was that big ones could carry
> freight around the world far faster than ships but far cheaper than air
> freight. The down side is that anything which leaves the ground/sea is
> subject to the huge regulatory burden of aircraft, which is what killed the
> big hovercraft in the end.
> Greg
>
>

From the documentary it seems that the major problem as that the
sea has a depressing habbit of not being very flat most of the time.

Richard
--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
www.radioparadise.com - Good Music, No Vine
Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive
 
"beamendsltd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:5a1ddc6a4e%[email protected]...

> From the documentary it seems that the major problem as that the
> sea has a depressing habbit of not being very flat most of the time.

Yes, I know someone in the merchant navy and it's not unheard of to be on
the bridge of his rather large freighter, as high as a tower block, and to
look _UP_ at the sea :cool:.
Greg


 
In article <aab1c76a4e%[email protected]>, beamendsltd
<[email protected]> writes
>In message <[email protected]>
> Ian Rawlings <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/22/caspian_sea_monster/
>>
>> Honking great big semi-flying machines that were designed to fly about
>> 10 metres above the sea surface, using reflected air as a cushion.
>> Includes links to videos and is fascinating. Some odd looking but
>> impressive machinery. Even has some spy shots from Google Earth
>> showing that some of these things are still out there in various
>> Chinese or Russian bases.
>>
>
>There's a TV documentary about these which is fascinating - only
>it has stupid title something like "Dragons That Fly" or whatever.
>Well worth a look when it's repeated.
>

Might have started out as a Horizon programme, "The Caspian Sea Monster"
or some such name.


Adrian
--
To Reply :
replace "news" with "adrian" and "nospam" with "ffoil"
Sorry for the rigmarole, If I want spam, I'll go to the shops
Every time someone says "I don't believe in trolls", another one dies.
 
In message <[email protected]>
Adrian Simpson <[email protected]> wrote:

> In article <aab1c76a4e%[email protected]>, beamendsltd
> <[email protected]> writes
> >In message <[email protected]>
> > Ian Rawlings <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/22/caspian_sea_monster/
> >>
> >> Honking great big semi-flying machines that were designed to fly about
> >> 10 metres above the sea surface, using reflected air as a cushion.
> >> Includes links to videos and is fascinating. Some odd looking but
> >> impressive machinery. Even has some spy shots from Google Earth
> >> showing that some of these things are still out there in various
> >> Chinese or Russian bases.
> >>
> >
> >There's a TV documentary about these which is fascinating - only
> >it has stupid title something like "Dragons That Fly" or whatever.
> >Well worth a look when it's repeated.
> >
>
> Might have started out as a Horizon programme, "The Caspian Sea Monster"
> or some such name.
>

That was the one!

>
> Adrian

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
www.radioparadise.com - Good Music, No Vine
Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive
 
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