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Tupolev A-3. Not exactly a plane, but...

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by Crawler, Nov 7, 2012.

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  1. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #26 Spasso, Nov 10, 2012
    The good ole days.
     
  2. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #27 donv, Nov 11, 2012
    Heck, the SP 4449 could do 110, and it's a steam engine!

    I have to say, though, that the rail Zeppelin thing is an incredibly cool looking machine!

     
  3. Crawler

    Crawler F1 Veteran

    Jul 2, 2006
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    #28 Crawler, Nov 11, 2012
    Well, I did say "more than". I was too lazy to look it up at the time, but top speed was more like 230 kph, or 142 mph. I still say that's not too bad for 1931.

    The Super Chief was fantastic, though.
     
  4. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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    #29 Bob Parks, Nov 11, 2012
    What are these TRAIN things you guys are talking about?
     
  5. Piper

    Piper Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #30 Piper, Nov 11, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    For my money, the coolest not-quite-a-plane out of the Soviet Union was the Ekranoplan.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lun_class_ekranoplan

    The Lun-class ekranoplan (NATO reporting name Duck) was a ground effect aircraft designed by Rostislav Evgenievich Alexeev and used by the Soviet and Russian navies from 1987 to sometime in the late 1990s. It flew using the extra lift generated by the effect of its large wings when close to the surface of the water - about four meters or less. Lun was one of the largest seaplanes ever built, with a length of 73 m (240 ft), rivaling the Hughes H-4 Hercules ("The Spruce Goose") and many jumbo jets. The name Lun comes from the Russian for harrier.

    The only aircraft of this type ever built, the MD-160, entered service with the Black Sea Fleet in 1987. Eight Kuznetsov NK-87 turbofans were mounted on forward canards, and each produced 127.4 kN (28,600 lbf) thrust. It had a flying boat hull with a large deflecting plate at the bottom to provide a "step" for takeoff. The aircraft was equipped for anti-surface warfare, and it carried the P-270 Moskit (Mosquito) guided missile. It was equipped with six missile launchers, mounted in pairs on the dorsal surface of its fuselage, and its advanced tracking systems mounted in its nose and tail.

    Another version of Lun was planned for use as a mobile field hospital for rapid deployment to any ocean or coastal location. Work was about 90% complete on this model, the Spasatel, but its military funding ended, and it was never completed. The only MD-160 completed is now sitting unused at a naval station in the town of Kaspiysk.

    In 2007, the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation decided to resume production of this model of ekranoplan in 2012[citation needed], following a detailed examination of the unit. Until then upgrades would be made to the craft. At present, the relevant government order has been received by the Alexeyev Design Bureau.
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  6. tbakowsky

    tbakowsky Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #31 tbakowsky, Nov 11, 2012
    There is another one that they called the cassbein sea monster. It was a huge thing as well. Footage of it is on YouTube. Massive machines. Interesting that they want to resume production.
     
  7. Tcar

    Tcar F1 Rookie

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    #32 Tcar, Nov 11, 2012
    That'd be 'Caspian' Sea...

    I've seen pics and descriptions of it... the problem with being on the Caspian Sea, is that it can't go anywhere else but the Caspian. Granted, the Caspian is pretty big (largest lake in the world by a bunch). But still, for a jet-powered weapon it's sort of just doing laps.
     
  8. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

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    #33 PSk, Nov 12, 2012
    How does it turn that close to the water? Can't bank surely?
    Pete
     
  9. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #34 Spasso, Nov 12, 2012
    Lateral skid, a WIDE one. That thing is 300 feet long.
     
  10. Crawler

    Crawler F1 Veteran

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    #35 Crawler, Nov 12, 2012
    Well, we veered just a bit off-topic. It occurred to me that this thread should be retitled "Surface Vehicles that Use Aircraft-Type Propulsion".

    Anyway, I'm sure that you must have some train stories, Bob. ;)
     
  11. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #36 donv, Nov 12, 2012
    I thought it was just on the Caspian for development purposes? So they could keep it under wraps, similar to the lake in Nevada the US Navy uses.

     
  12. Tcar

    Tcar F1 Rookie

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    #37 Tcar, Nov 12, 2012
    Maybe, but then how do they get it to the Black Sea/Mediterranean, the Pacific or somewhere else.


    What lake in NV?????
     
  13. Bob Parks

    Bob Parks F1 Veteran
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    #38 Bob Parks, Nov 12, 2012
    Well, just one. When I was a kid my brother used to drop me off at the College Park airport while he worked on his studies at the U. of Md. medical school. When I got tired of watching airplanes I would cross the road to watch trains roaring by on the main line heading out of Washington. I thought that it was great fun to lay on the ballast close to the tracks when the trains went by. The tracks were on a raised roadbed so I was a bit below them but it was still a thrill.
     
  14. rydermike

    rydermike Formula Junior

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    #39 rydermike, Nov 22, 2012
    The Military channel had a day where they covered the US & Russian sea creatures .
     
  15. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    #40 Gatorrari, Sep 3, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  16. kylec

    kylec F1 Rookie

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    #41 kylec, Sep 3, 2013
    Does he ever take it out on the water?
     
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