max:
waves up to 1.2m, wind up to 7m/s

That's like buying car and have to keep in the garage on rainy days.

It's probably perfect for huge lakes(without wind). ;)

I think its probably marketed as a fast water taxi in which case 1.2 meter waves and 14 knot winds is reasonable.

corrected.

well, whatever. ;)

Perhaps I should have said "Maybe you're not ridiculously rich, and live in a coastal area?" ;)

Uh- no.

But I would want some reliable transportation, I could also use during bad weather(not in a hurricane, but...) - like a boat.


Rich?
This thing retails for about $520.000 plus another $12k for training per persona.

I sure can get a decent and fast boat for that.

Coastal area...in Switzerland?

Depending on design limitations and environment, ekranoplans could be used not only on water but also on ground, like a hovercraft. Of course you'd need relatively flat ground that lacks high rock formations or high vegetation, but maybe it would work in the Russian steppes and tundras, or as a fast transport in the arctic regions where a lot of water is frozen for a lot of time during each year.

I read on a local military affairs magazine that Russia is thinking of getting new ekranoplans around 2012.
The interesting thing is that some of the newly proposed designs are not strictly ground effect vehicles but also have normal wings, in order to allow them to transition to normal flight for short periods of time for clearing obstacles.

he meant: "IF - THEN". ;)

Lake Geneva :D


http://www.gibson.com/Files/aaFeatur...de-Nobs_M4.jpg

we have some VERY strict noise restrictions for anything on water... 72db.