Ekranoplan

An ekranoplan is a vehicle resembling an aircraft but that operates solely on the principle of ground effect. Ground effect vehicles fly above any flat surface, with the height above ground dependent upon the size of the vehicle. Ekranoplan design was conceived by revolutionary Soviet engineer Rostislav Alexeev.

During the Cold War, ekranoplans were sighted for years on the Caspian Sea as huge, fast-moving objects. Some ekranoplans were over 330 ft long, 540 tonnes fully loaded, and could travel over 250 miles per hour, mere meters above the surface of the water.

(via Neatorama)