A-90 "ORLYONOK"
The Orlyonok is a large WIG prototype with one Kuznetsov NK-12MK 11000kW turboprop mounted high at the fin for cruise thrust and two Kuznetsov NK-8-4K turbofans of 10.5 ton thrust for take off, accelerating and landing. Along the trailing edge of the wing a five sectioned flap/aileron is fitted and along the leading edge, close to the wing tips there are special take-off screens. Two hydroskis are mounted at the underside of the fuselage, one in the front, another at the centre of gravity.
The original plan was to build 120 Orlyonoks as troop transport and assault vehicles, but only 4 have been built of which one has been used for static tests only. The first Orlyonok crashed during a VIP demo flight in 1974, this one has been rebuilt with a new alloy. This is the reason why some sources state that 5 Orlyonoks have been built.
The first Orlyonok was launched in the Volga river in Autumn 1973. In October 1979 the Orlyonok entered service in the Soviet Navy, where one got lost in a crash in 1992. Unfortunately the crew didn't survive the accident. The last flight of the Orlyonok took place in October 1993. Currently the remaining Orlyonoks are rusting and falling apart at their base, Kaspiisk Naval Air Base.
At least one of the prototypes of the Orlyonok was fitted with a split fuselage freight door, see photo below. There have been plans to modify one of the surviving Orlyonoks as a transport, carrying up to 150 passengers in a single deck layout or up to 350 passengers in a twin deck layout, but regarding their current status this may never happen.
A cargo version of the Orlyonok would be able to carry a 30 ton payload over a 1000 km range with 15t of fuel.
|
Role
|
Assault / Cargo Ekranoplan
|
|
Wing Span
|
103ft (31.5m)
|
| Length | 190ft (58m) |
| Height | 14 m |
| Weight | 140 tonnes - loaded |
| Engine |
2 x NK-8-4K (starting) 1 x NK-12MK (cruise) |
| Maximum speed | 400 km/h |
| Range | 3000 km |
| Armament | 76mm Gun Turret |
| Crew | 9 |
| Passengers |
75 (Luxury) 150 (Normal) 300 (Twin Deck) |
| Produced | 4 (1979-86) |
