The A-90 Orlyonok (Russian: Орлёнок, English: "Eaglet") is a Soviet ekranoplan (a ground effect vehicle) that was designed by Rostislav Evgenievich Alexeev of the Central Hydrofoil Design Bureau.
The A-90 uses ground effect to fly a few meters above the surface. The Russians classify it as Ekranoplan Class B - it can achieve an altitude of 3,000 m (9,800 ft), placing between Class A - which is limited to ground effect, and Class C, which exploits the ground effect only during take-offs and landings.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-90_Orlyonok |