Caspian Sea Monster

littlenige · 16-02-2006, 10:37 AM

Imagine it.......you´re pottering along at 60mph with the wind in your hair and a thumping V8 behind. You´re an ocean God. Invincible.

Suddenly you are aware of a change in air pressure. Something strange is happening. A distant whine is getting louder. What could be so loud as to drown out those glorious detroit horses?
Suddenly it´s getting dark. A shadow is falling over you. Is this the end of the World?

NO! It´s just the CASPIAN SEA MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wasonlydoing10knts! · 16-02-2006, 11:16 AM

I saw something on channel 4 about those things a couple of years ago, bloody awesome!

They went to the works and they're all just sitting there, perhaps they should get them on e-bay!

I can't remember the exact speeds they were doing but they were into the hundreds I think.

They work on some quirk of aerodynamics as I recall, wonder if I could get round the speed limit on windermere by claiming I was flying?

littlenige · 16-02-2006, 12:11 PM

I think they worked through ground effect - their proximity to water and the build up of pressure under the ´wings´gave them lift. I think you´re right about the speed too. What a bit of kit!!

wasonlydoing10knts! · 16-02-2006, 12:52 PM

Evil looking b***ard though!

It was ground effect I remember now.

Would look very impressive down Southampton water, wonder what they are like in a bit of sea.

verytricky · 16-02-2006, 02:08 PM

Does not a cat work on ground effects as well?

OLD PHART · 16-02-2006, 03:20 PM

I had a simlar experience crossing the Adriatic from Manfreddonia in Italy to Port Bar in Montenegro.

I was minding my own business cruising at 35 Knots in an Apache 45, All of a sudden there was a sudden change in air pressure a deafing noise and the bast!!!!d passed directly over at height that was difficult to work out as it appeared to be diving down and pulled up right over me I could even smell the exhausts from his jets.

Not satisfied with that he turned in a big arc and rounded the stern with wings verticle to the water, he even had time to give me a wave so I gave him the only gesture that I could think of A single finger wave & he even gave another wave, So after I changed my pants I started to get a bit worried as the Yugoslav war was not long over and there may still have been tension.

This incident was the first of four on that crossing, two involving aircraft and one aircraft carrier, The GPS also went completly off course almost reverse course.

What a scary trip that was, but I arrived ok no worse from the experience.

Smith · 17-02-2006, 07:43 AM

the 'caspian sea monster' cannot fly at altitude. It's wings are too short. It does not work like a cat either, as no part of it is supposed to be in the water as it travels along. I think that it rides on high pressure air which it itself creates as it ' flies ' very close to the surface of the water.

Cookee · 17-02-2006, 09:32 AM

They are called Ekranoplans - the carrying capacity is absolutely unbelievable, but need two booster rockets to get them going.

There were a bunch of russians that moved to Florida and they built light 4 seat versions commercially over there - never heard much more about them though?

MrRob · 17-02-2006, 09:35 AM

I just read one site on this subject and it said that its main problem was that it isnt really big enough for the ground effect to work.

Smith · 17-02-2006, 09:44 AM

I may be wrong, but I believe that Wilbur the albatross uses the same principle to enable him to carry Bernard and Miss Bianca on his back in Disney's classic ' The Rescuers '.

Matt · 17-02-2006, 09:49 AM

What url?

Quote:

Originally posted by MrRob
I just read one site on this subject and it said that its main problem was that it isnt really big enough for the ground effect to work.

MrRob · 17-02-2006, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Matt
What url?

http://davidszondy.com/future/Flight/GEV.htm

Matt · 17-02-2006, 10:09 AM

Ta

MikeyFIN · 17-02-2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Smith
the 'caspian sea monster' cannot fly at altitude. It's wings are too short. It does not work like a cat either, as no part of it is supposed to be in the water as it travels along. I think that it rides on high pressure air which it itself creates as it ' flies ' very close to the surface of the water.

The Russian thinking is everything can Fly when you give it enough power...
remember the Mig 21-Bis "Fishbed"?
The 60´s designed fighter that leaves an F-18 standing still.

Matt · 17-02-2006, 01:43 PM

Or the Mig 25 foxbat designed to catch the XB-70 valkyrie.
There's actually a 2 seater version in russia you can have a go in.

Matt · 17-02-2006, 01:45 PM

Did you know the americans revamped a Tu-144 not so long ago and used it as a testbed for some SST research. Was for sale, think the price was 6 million. I tried to see if I get a loan to hire it out as the ultimate private jet! D

Smith · 17-02-2006, 01:46 PM

rather you than me .... it may do over mach 3 but it's probably held together with sellotape and spit .... and no f-ing chaudron jokes please

codprawn · 17-02-2006, 02:12 PM

They would have to go a long way to beat a Bae Lightning - Mike Beachy Head runs a few in South Africa for VERY rich people to try out - a lot of his customers are Russian oil billionaires - many of whom used to fly the Migs - they never thought they would get their hands on one of our planes - AWESOME was the verdict.

Apparently they have set a few new world records with the plane recently.

Matt · 17-02-2006, 02:16 PM

Ah, but can you use em for lifting crashed lorries!

http://www.incredible-adventures.com/capetown.html
http://www.incredible-adventures.com/migs/index.html

and the one I "was" (until I met powerboating) saving up for:
http://www.incredible-adventures.com/edgeofspace.html

wasonlydoing10knts! · 17-02-2006, 02:29 PM

Hmm that mig bears a marked resemblance to a lightning.

Went to an airshow last summer and was very disappointed when the promised lightning never showed up. Have loved them since I was a nipper and used to see (and hear) them flying over my granny's house in beverley.

Saw one at RAF valley airshow, flew along at about 100ft then just went into a vertical climb until it was a tiny dot in the sky, fkin awesome!

Nearest thing round here is some rich bloke who lives in the lune valley somewhere who has a huey, not as fast as a lightning but when it comes over its like being back in 'nam!