Posted Mar 14th 2010 6:03PM
If you have been a real aviation fan for any length of time you will have run across the ekranoplane at some time. I recall running across one in my fathers copy of Janes book of Aircraft a long time ago. I always wondered what would happen to one if it caught a huge ocean swell right in the nose.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSYmSnpQ360
While this Kiwi craft is no ekranoplane, I bet he won't have too many problems with selling them of he keeps to New Zealand (show of hands, who has always wanted to go to NZ even before LOTR came out). The Kiwis love their adventure sports.
damn that looks like fun.
March 15 2010 at 12:21 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyTruly awesome ... can it loop upside down?
March 15 2010 at 7:38 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYes, if I'm at the helm - cuz I'm a klutz.
March 15 2010 at 8:58 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI've been wanting one of those. Looks like an amazing time.
I was rather bummed out though when I saw that I wasn't the only one that knew it was a ekranoplan.
It might make you feel better to know that most people wouldn't have a clue of what an ekranoplane is had it not been for a popular article on them recently on another car website, Jalopnik.com.
Humongous derelict soviet hover planes rock, that's all I have to say about that. This thingie is neat too.
I'd buy two for that price, cause I know the Mrs. will be jealous!
Genius!
I always loved Ekranoplan even though everyone I know seems to hate it for some reason but I find that machine to be insanely amazing marvel and this guy also build an amazing fun machine! This is seriously cool.
This has been tried before. There was a company in South Florida who constructed a sort of flying ground effect vehicle meant for commutes between assorted islands and other water destinations. I don't recall if it had a skirt like this one but in any case, it was bigger and looked an awful lot like an average Cessna or Piper or something, but with shorter wings.
The concept was great. The vehicle worked well. It was set to go into production.
Until the FAA caught wind of it. The company was shut down hard because a flying vehicle like this has to comply with air worthiness crap and ALL the red tape and liability that comes with airplanes, not to mention that people operating one would need a suitable license.
A real shame because the concept was awesome.
Now this kiwi gadget looks a lot lighter and smaller and might qualify as an ultralight, but the video shows it 10-20 feet off the water which means the FAA would get involved. I wish the inventor well with it.
that looks like fun
March 14 2010 at 8:15 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
