[2banana]

+1000 cool points if a person could fly in this thing!

[RayChuang88]

I don't think so. One reason why the ekranoplan was abandoned was the totally ridiculous fuel consumption this thing required to operate skimming on the top of the water surface.

[SampleMan]

It was designed to fly in surface effect. 150 meters is far too high to be in surface effect. I will need to operate and about 10 meters off the water at most.

As a high speed coastal defense missile boat, it was an interesting concept. However, as a passenger carrier, it has some issues. First, 8 jet turbines for 50 passengers is a bit inefficient. Second, corrosion is going to be a beast. Third, ground effect is operations are going to be a rough ride during daylight hours.

[SampleMan]

It was designed to fly in surface effect. 150 meters is far too high to be in surface effect. I will need to operate and about 10 meters off the water at most.

As a high speed coastal defense missile boat, it was an interesting concept. However, as a passenger carrier, it has some issues. First, 8 jet turbines for 50 passengers is a bit inefficient. Second, corrosion is going to be a beast. Third, ground effect is operations are going to be a rough ride during daylight hours.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

That’s a mighty thin 150 meter altitude. There’s no ground effect at 150 m. Probably a typo missing a decimal point.

Requires flat seas.

The noise will be deafening...no high bypass turbofan engines?

Excellent replacement for the idiotic California HS choo-choo.

Annoying Language Nit: Author meant to write “moniker,” not “nomenclature.”

[Little Pig]

Here's the original "Sea Monster", the concept craft on which the missile-carrier was based:

Given the advances in technology since the 60s, I would suspect the high fuel consumption could be overcome through computer modeling and more efficient turbines. Something like this would be a great ferry craft for longer distances, enabling high-speed commuting all along a coastal region. I'm thinking places like Chesapeake bay, along the Florida coast, across the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, and so on.

And just a correction, these aircraft "fly" less than 150 *feet* above the water (more like 40-50 at most), not the 150 *meters* the article mentions.

[Yo-Yo]

Normally ground effect is roughly 10% of the wingspan, so the height will vary with wing length.

Also, notice the placement of the jet engines. The wing is a 'blown' surface (I see you smirking, Bevis) and as such increases the wing lift which will also increase the ground effect working height.

However, like someone already said, a rogue wave would not make for a good day.

"Heh heh, he said 'blown!'"

[lapsus calami]

 

What this thread is lacking is a video - imagine the sound that thing made with 10 screaming jet engines.

 

In the middle of the vid at about the 1:20 mark you can see they even get a bit of lift-off going, something like maybe 20-30 feet up from the water.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3mvLR9qb20

 

Extreme water skiing anyone?