It’s altitude didn’t surpass half the length of its wingspan, therefore it was ground effect, THEREFORE it was an Ekranoplan, think, anon, THINK.
Mr Hughes was told not to even take the Hercules off the surface of the water. Im sure it would have achieved a proper flying altitude if it was given clearance to do so.
And I’m sure there was a reason why they didn’t even want to get the machine into ground effect, therefore it doesn’t count, in never flew, and the Antonov An-22 Antei remains the largest propeller driven aircraft ever made.
Stfu boatboy, the men are speaking.
You mean like when you are on a swing? Howard probably heard all the groaning of the main members and decided he did not want to die that day.
Ah! The Caspian Sea Monster, an Ekranoplan, or ground effect vehicle. Used to be the largest and heavies aircraft ever built until the AN-225 was created. Basically, it uses the ground effect to “fly” at only a few meters above the water, at high speeds, essentially making it a jet-powered, and very fast hydrofoil, that just leaves the water entirely to reduce resistance.
Idea was to skim along at high speed, too low and fast to be detected, and fire nuclear missiles off its back.
