I want one !!!!!

[poynton]

YouTube




Andy

 

[globalplayer]

"The potential of the Airfish-8 is untapped and limitless".

Unless there are waves.

 

[billshurv]

great if you live in the Caribbean. There was a program on ground effect boats a few years back where they showed these new derivatives after looking around the Russian 'caspian sea monster'

 

[Charles Darwin]

It's a tiny Ekranoplan!

Very cute.

 

[chrisb]

I think globalplayer hit the nail on the head

only one of numerous cute ideas out there that have limited practicality in real world conditions

 

[jplesset]

Hm. How does it do with chop? Swells? The ocean isn't quite so swimming-pool flat all the time....

 

[TheGimp]

You beat me to it. First thing I thought of was "man that is a mirror smooth surface for the ocean".

 

[scottjoplin]

A long list of disadvantages Ground effect vehicle - Wikipedia
The implication I take from the OP is it's a toy for the person who has everything

 

[Cal Weldon]

Personally I'm with Andy. I can wait for the calm days to use the thing. I'm not in a hurry.

 

[asuslover]

Windy days? Big waves? Hmm....I'll pass.

 

[poynton]

............. it's a toy for the person who has everything

Windy days? Big waves? Hmm....I'll pass.

Personally I'm with Andy. I can wait for the calm days to use the thing. I'm not in a hurry.

If I could afford one, I can also afford to wait for the flat calm days !!


Andy

 

[Pano]

Having ridden the Hover to Dover a few times, I would guess this would be rough, rough, rough over choppy water. Where's my Dramamine?

 

[Charles Darwin]

As the wiki page scottjoplin linked to stated the ekranoplan is more affected by rough seas than a ship but less than a hovercraft or a hydrofoil. They travel up to 20m above the water and in high winds they have to start into it.

Disadvantages which are probably made up by higher speeds, the Russians got them up to 740km/h (460mph)!

 

[chrisb]

The implication I take from the OP is it's a toy for the person who has everything

Including their own weather calming machine

As I noted before, the original cited example is a cute enough and quite possibly well executed implementation of an impractical idea.

When I have a spare million dollars or so to fritter away on silly toys, I’ll put my name on the wait list for whatever McLaren and Tesla have to offer - as well as training and membership at Vancouver Island Motorsport Circuit

Of course that’s predicated on being nimble enough to enter and exit the damned things with assistance