Ekranoplan Ground Effects Aircraft Used for Passenger Transportation in Remote Russia

It's pretty much the same story with the Russian ekranoplans, which never fulfilled their original role. That was to transport about a thousand troops or a tank unit in the event of war with the US.

Because of the advantages offered, the technology has been adapted for civilian use. A Russian company is using the Burevestnik-24 to fly commercially between Yakutsk and Olekminsk.

This brand new machine uses two AviaSmart B-V12K engines, producing 350 horsepower each. It has been fitted with the latest navigation equipment and is capable of operating like a traditional boat at speeds of up 30 km/h (19 mph). It can carry 3.5 tons or 24 people at speeds of up to 200 km/h (124 mph) for a distance of up to 2,000 km (1,240 miles), thus making it more practical than a helicopter or boat.

Even though it looks like a conventional aircraft, the Burevestnik-24 works differently. The Ekranoplan makes use of aerodynamic interaction between the wings and the surface, something known as the ground effect. Basically, as long as the distance between the wing and the surface of the earth is short, the air bounces underneath and creates a pocket of lift.

We've managed to secure official footage from various tests carried out by the Burevestnik-24 in the past several years. As you can see, it can take off from both water and ice.

For those of you who don't know this, Yakutia, also known as the Sakha Republic, is a federation subject of Russia. With a population of less than a million people and a total area of 1.191 million square miles (3.084 million square kilometers), it's one of the least populated places on the planet.