Ekranoplans are this really cool idea, in theory, that keeps running into problems with reality. Offering great lifting capability with excellent fuel efficiency for speed and range they seem like a great solution for high transport over oceans, seas and large bodies of water. The Soviets toyed with the idea from the late 60’s thru the 80’s and actually built several models, the most famous being the Caspian Sea Monster. There were even proposals for building massive sea-liner versions for hauling passengers. So why haven’t more been built? One they do look different and people can be very distrusting of things that don’t look like what people expect. Two the discovery that Rogue Waves really were not sailors tall tales and that they were more common than ever imagined was the real deal-breaker. In fact the Soviets may have lost a couple to large unexpected waves and swells.

Now what does this have to do with this picture. Well since you can have pilots who are only a few inches high it is possible to operate ekranoplans on much smaller bodies of water, and the type has evolved into a specialized vehicle used primaily for racing and recreation. This scene shows Ketra Viktov finishing a testing session before a race. The press is on hand as the vehicle is lifted out of the water by the bigum support crew.