Pentagon-Plan - The Aerocon Wingship - the largest aircraft that should have been built
At the end of the Cold War, the Pentagon wanted to build a massive Ekranoplan, larger than the "Caspian Sea Monster" of the USSR. Soviet Ekranoplans were designed as "Fleet Destroyers." They flew at nearly 500 km/h over the waves and carried a battery of Anti-Ship missiles. (The "Duck" and the "Monster" were to shatter the NATO fleets)
On the other hand, DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects) wanted to build a type of flying transport ship. As big as a hotel, it would have traveled over the seas at 750 km/h. Its mission was that of a landing craft. With the Aerocon Wingship, they intended to transport troops, tanks, and helicopters. The vehicle's capacity was to include 32 helicopters, 20 tanks, four landing craft, and approximately 2000 soldiers.
Since Ekranoplanes require significantly less fuel than aircraft, the Aerocon Wingship would have disrupted civil aviation had it been built. It would have weighed 400 tons, been 172 meters long, and had a payload capacity of 1500 tons. That's approximately 30 times the weight of a Boeing 747. Its range would have been nearly 20,000 kilometers, which can be translated as "worldwide."
Riding on a Air Cushion
What causes the ground effect: An Ekranoplan functions similarly to a hovercraft, but much more elegant. Its broad stub wings are shaped in such a way that a type of air cushion forms between them and the surface. The Ekranoplan "rides" then on the uplift of its own wave. This works only over water and unpopulated areas, over populated regions a jet cannot fly. A critical phase is the landing, the moment when the wave collapses. The concept had only one disadvantage for the military; the Aerocon Wingship could only be used over water, over seas and large riverbeds. It was not a device that could have transitioned from the lift of the ground effect into actual flight.
Steven Hooker, the chief designer of the aircraft, was infatuated with the idea. The essence of the ground effect lies in the fact that an Ekranoplan becomes increasingly alluring, the larger it is. With size, the payload grows disproportionately. The US military considered purchasing 13 units for supposedly 15 billion dollars. But with the end of the Cold War, the plans were abandoned.
Renaissance of the Small Hovercraft
There have been attempts in Russia to build a large Ekranoplan as a transport, but they were never mass-produced. The US is also developing such a model for the military. Whether it will be built is uncertain. However, in the civilian sector, Ekranoplans are experiencing a renaissance. As water taxis or as super ferries. Since it doesn't really fly, it is not subject to aviation regulations. Moreover, it requires only a dock and no airport. Compared to ships, it can move sensationally fast. Additionally, an Ekranoplan consumes significantly less energy than a flying aircraft, making battery operation possible.
These small Ekranoplans are all based on the fundamental designs of Dr. Alexander Lippisch. He developed the inverted wing design in the 1960s. Lippisch is considered a brilliant designer. His designs were the basis for Hitler's rocket interceptor Messerschmitt Me 163 "Komet".
You may also read:
Russia is planning to build the largest cargo plane in the world
The "Duck" and the "Monster" were to crush the NATO fleets
This water-air taxi is based on the design of Hitler's rocket builder.
In light of their fuel efficiency, the massive Aerocon Wingship, if built, could have significantly impacted the civil aviation industry due to its displacement of conventional aircraft. Meanwhile, in the civilian sector, smaller Ekranoplans are experiencing a resurgence, operating as water taxis or super ferries, thanks to their fast speed, energy efficiency, and exemption from aviation regulations.
