Hydrofoil classification. Where did the Soviet hydrofoils go? Mechanical adjustment of hydrofoil angle of attack

“Burevestnik”, “Sputnik”, “Comet” and “Meteor” - the names of these Soviet ships gave rise to romantic thoughts about flight. Although we were talking only about a river trip. However, it’s hard to say, a trip on a hydrofoil is also swimming, but there is something of flying in it. These ships, which are general view, called rockets and could reach speeds of 150 km/h (carrying up to 300 passengers), were the same symbol of the USSR of the 60s - 80s, like the real space rockets that plied the Bolshoi Theater in outer space.

Heavy economic crisis(if not an industrial disaster) of the 90s led to a sharp reduction in the number of ships of this class. Now let's remember a short history these unusual ships.

The principle of movement of these ships was twofold. At low speed, such a ship moves like an ordinary ship, that is, due to the buoyant force of water (hello to Archimedes). But when it develops high speed, due to the hydrofoils these ships have, a lifting force arises, which lifts the ship above the water. That is, a hydrofoil is both a ship and, as it were, an airplane at the same time. He just flies low.

Perhaps the most elegant high-speed hydrofoil was the so-called. gas turbine ship "Burevestnik". It was developed by the Central Design Bureau of the SPK R. Alekseev in the city of Gorky and, with a length of 42 meters, could reach a design speed of 150 km/h (although there is no data that the ship ever reached such a speed).

The first (and only) experimental vessel, Burevestnik, was built in 1964.

It was operated by the Volga Shipping Company on the Volga along the route Kuibyshev - Ulyanovsk - Kazan - Gorky.

What made this vessel especially impressive were the two aircraft gas turbine engines on its sides (such engines were used on the IL-18 aircraft).

In such a ship, travel should indeed resemble flight.

The captain's cabin was particularly elegant, the design of which was reminiscent of the design of futuristic American limousines of the 50s (the photo below, however, is not the cabin of the Burevestnik, but about the same).

Unfortunately, having worked until the end of the 70s, the unique 42-meter “Burevestnik” was written off due to wear and tear, and remained in a single copy. The immediate reason for the decommissioning was an accident in 1974, when the Burevestnik collided with a tug, severely damaging one side and the gas turbine engine. After this, it was restored, as they say, “somehow” and after some time its further operation was considered unprofitable.

Another type of hydrofoil was the Meteor.

The Meteors were smaller than the Burevestnik (34 meters in length) and not as fast (no more than 100 km/h). Meteors were produced from 1961 to 1991 and, in addition to the USSR, were also supplied to the countries of the socialist camp.

A total of four hundred motor ships of this series were built.

Unlike the aircraft engines of the Burevestnik, the Meteors flew using diesel engines driving propellers typical of ships.

Vessel control panel:

But the most famous hydrofoil is probably the Raketa.

“Rocket” was first presented in Moscow in 1957 at the International Student Youth Festival.

The leader of the USSR Nikita Khrushchev himself then expressed himself in the spirit that, they say, it’s enough to swim along rivers in rusty bathtubs, it’s time to travel in style.

However, at that time only the first experimental “Rocket” was running along the Moscow River, and after the festival it was sent for trial operation to the Volgna on the Gorky-Kazan line. The ship covered a distance of 420 km in 7 hours. An ordinary ship would travel the same route for 30 hours. As a result, the experiment was considered successful and “Rocket” went into production.

Another famous Soviet ship is the Comet.

"Comet" was a naval version of "Meteor". This 1984 photo shows two Comets in the seaport of Odessa:

"Comet" was developed in 1961. Serially produced from 1964 to 1981 at Feodosiysk shipyard"Sea". A total of 86 Komets were built (including 34 for export).

One of the “Comets” that has survived to this day in a bright design:

By the beginning of the 70s, “Rockets” and “Meteors” were already considered obsolete ships and the “Voskhod” was developed to replace them.

The first ship of the series was built in 1973. A total of 150 Voskhods were built, some of which were exported (China, Canada, Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, etc.). In the 90s, production of Voskhods was stopped.

Sunrise in the Netherlands:

Among other types of hydrofoils, it is worth remembering the Sputnik.

It was truly a monster. At the time of construction of the first Sputnik ship (October 1961), it was the world's largest passenger hydrofoil ship. Its length was 47 meters, and its passenger capacity was 300 people!

"Sputnik" was first operated on the Gorky - Tolyatti line, but then, due to its low landing, it was transferred to the lower Volga on the Kuibyshev - Kazan line. But he spent only three months on this line. On one of the voyages, the ship encountered a sinkhole, after which it stood in a ship repair yard for several years. At first they wanted to cut it into scrap metal, but then they decided to install it on the Togliatti embankment. “Sputnik” was placed next to the river station, where it housed a cafe of the same name, which with its appearance continues to delight (or frighten) the residents of Avtograd (proof).

The marine version of Sputnik was called “Whirlwind” and was intended for sailing in waves up to 8 points.

It is also worth remembering the ship “Chaika”, which was created in a single copy and took 70 passengers on board, but reached a speed of up to 100 km/h

Another rare one we can’t help but mention is “Typhoon”...

...and "Swallow"

A story about Soviet hydrofoils would be incomplete without a story about a man who devoted his life to creating these ships.

Rostislav Evgenievich Alekseev (1916-1980) - Soviet shipbuilder, creator of hydrofoils, ekranoplanes and ekranoplanes. Yacht designer, winner of all-Union competitions, master of sports of the USSR.

He came to the idea of ​​hydrofoils while working during the war (1942) to create combat boats. His boats did not have time to take part in the war, but in 1951 Alekseev was awarded the Stalin Prize of the second degree for the development and creation of hydrofoils. It was his team that created “Rocket” in the 50s, and then, starting in 1961, almost every year new project: “Meteor”, “Comet”, “Satellite”, “Petrel”, “Sunrise”. In the 60s, Rostislav Evgenievich Alekseev began work on creating the so-called. "Ekranoplans" - ships for the airborne forces, which were supposed to hover above the water at a height of several meters. In January 1980, during testing of a passenger ground-propelled aircraft, which was to be put into operation for the 1980 Olympics, Alekseev was seriously injured. He died from these injuries on February 9, 1980. After his death, the idea of ​​ekranoplanes was never returned to.

And now I offer some more photos of these incredibly beautiful hydrofoils:

Built in 1979, Comet-44 is today operated in Turkey:

Project "Olympia"

Project "Katran"

Double-decker monster "Cyclone"

Ship cemetery near Perm.

Bar "Meteor" in Kanev (Ukraine)

Red Meteor in China

But even today these ships of the 60s designs look quite futuristic.

The Raketa boat is a vessel equipped with wings below the waterline. It is classified as “P” and is designed to simultaneously serve 64-66 passengers. The specific capacity is determined by the modification of the vehicle. The “Rocket” has dimensions of 27 * 5 * 4.5 m, when moving it settles by 1.1 m, when idle - by 1.8 m. When empty, the vessel’s displacement is 18, when full - 25.3. The ship can move at a speed of no more than 70 km/h, but the standard speed is from 60 to 65 km/h. The design has one propeller, and the main engine is installed with 900-1000 horsepower.

The Raketa boat is not a single product, but a whole series, launched into production back in the period Soviet Union. The projects for which these ships were built were called:

• 340IU;
• 340E.

They began manufacturing ships in 1957. Their production continued until approximately the mid-70s. During this period, about three hundred boats were launched for river transport support. The first of them received the iconic name “Rocket-1”. The Krasnoye Sormovo plant was rightfully proud of its construction.

The Raketa-1 boat made its maiden voyage in 1957; it was launched on August 25. The route ran between Kazan and Nizhny Novgorod. In total, the ship covered 420 kilometers of water surface in just seven hours! What the Raketa boat showed specifications, struck the imagination of ordinary people. 30 lucky ones were the people who were able to make this exciting journey by water for the first time in such a short period of time.

Present and future

Since the boat “Raketa” (vessel speed is up to 70 km/h) showed such excellent parameters, it quickly gained popularity. The name of this vessel almost immediately became a household name among the people. This tradition has survived to this day - today all ships that resemble a classic Soviet motor ship are called “rockets”.

During the Soviet period river boat“Rocket” was not available to everyone. Wealthy families could afford a weekend trip to some beautiful region: pilots took their passengers to charming bays and coves inaccessible to those traveling by land. But the price for such a cruise was steep. For example, electric trains, which could take you the same distance from the city, were several times cheaper. Nevertheless, it was simply impossible to imagine a better holiday on the water for the whole family than the Raketa boat.

Nowadays, this ship is used daily. For example, it can be seen on the river. Day after day, faithful ships carry passengers between cities and take tourists on excursion routes.

Capital "Rocket"

The boat projects were immediately considered as schemes according to which it would be necessary to build water vehicles for the great Soviet capital - Moscow. Therefore, they were designed by the best shipbuilders of that era. Accordingly, as soon as the first Rocket-1 was launched, as soon as possible this ship ended up in the capital. Its first voyage took place in 1957 during the summer months, when the city hosted a festival dedicated to students and youth. It was an international event in which the authorities were going to show off the best of the Soviet Union. And river fleet vessels, of course, too.

Hydrofoils began to be used en masse in Moscow waters only at the beginning of the next decade, where they enjoyed well-deserved success until 2006. And since 2007, the authorities have launched a large-scale program designed to restore inland water transport, in particular, the Rocket Park. Since 2009, four such ships have made regular voyages:

• 102 (only for VIP flights);
• 191 (previously operated as 244th);

Unofficial sources claim that other hydrofoil vessels based on legendary Soviet designs will soon appear - as soon as work on restoring the machines is completed.

general characteristics

A hydrofoil boat is a fast ship, which works on the principle of dynamic support. The ship has a hull, and under it there are “wings”. If the ship moves slowly or stands still, balance is ensured by the Archimedean force. As the speed increases, it rises above the water surface by the force generated by the wings. This design solution made it possible to minimize water resistance, which affects speed.

River types of water transport with wings have made it possible to do what previously seemed impossible - high-speed navigation along the country's waterways. Now trips began to take a few hours, which led to a rapid increase in the popularity of transport. At the same time, the ships are relatively inexpensive to operate and are characterized by a long service life. All this became the basis for competitiveness, thanks to which, from the moment of their launch to this day, “winged” types of water transport are serious rivals to other means of transportation.

Non-rocket "Rockets"

"Rocket" was not the only one vehicle of such a type. The first launch of this iconic ship was carried out, and already next year The hydrofoil boat "Volga" took off for the voyage. By the way, it was demonstrated at the Brussels exhibition, and for good reason: the ship was able to receive a gold medal.

Two years later, the first “Meteor” (another analogue of the “Rocket”) was launched, and then the “Comet”, which became the first in the sea for such a thing. Over the years, numerous “Chaikas”, “Whirlwinds” and “Satellites” saw the light of day. . Finally, the pinnacle of shipbuilding in this area can be called the Burevestnik ship, a full-fledged gas turbine motor ship.

The Soviet Union had the largest base of hydrofoils, and this was largely ensured by the fact that the production of “Rockets” was well established. But the country itself did not use everything it produced: channels for selling ships abroad were established. In total, “Rockets” were sold to several dozen different countries.

The development of ships with underwater wings was mainly carried out by Rostislav Alekseev. “Rocket” is one of the important reasons for pride. The ship, designed for routes of up to half a thousand kilometers, fully justified the money invested in it and remains attractive to this day.

Production in earnest

When the Raketa boats showed their excellent parameters, proved their reliability and it became clear that they had considerable prospects, the government decided to launch mass production of these ships. The task was entrusted to the More plant, located in Feodosia. Somewhat later, it was possible to establish the production of ships in the following cities:

• Leningrad;
• Khabarovsk;
• Nizhny Novgorod;
• Volgograd.

Production was also set up on the territory of Georgia, in the city of Poti.

Manufactured ships were exported to:

• Finland;
• Romania;
• Lithuania;
• China;
• Germany.

And today “Rockets” are running in some of these countries. Over time, many ships were converted into summer cottages, restaurants, and cafeterias.

How was this conceived?

Looking at how successful the ship has become, it seems that this is what the government planned. But was it really like that? The project was developed under the control of the Ministry of Shipbuilding and was financed by the state - this fact is indisputable. But historical reports prove that officials did not connect real expectations and hopes with these models. This was largely due to the non-standard nature of the idea as such - they were afraid that it might completely burn out. And there was a time when it was very easy to remain “misunderstood,” which could not only become a nuisance, but lead to complete collapse.

In an effort to do everything possible, the brilliant Soviet shipbuilder Rostislav Alekseev set himself the maximum task - to design and build a ship and demonstrate it not just to anyone, but immediately to Khrushchev himself, that is, bypassing all lower-level authorities. This daring plan had a chance of success and was implemented in the summer of 1957. The ship "on all wings" rushed along the Moscow River and was moored not at a random pier, but where the General Secretary usually liked to stop. Alekseev personally invited Nikita Khrushchev on board. And so began the swim that allowed the ship to become legendary. Even then, the main person of the country appreciated the admiration of the public for the ship that overtook everyone. And the Secretary General himself was impressed by the speed. It was then that the phrase was born, preserved for posterity: “We’ll stop riding oxen along the rivers! Let's build!"

The story doesn't end

Yes, “Rockets” were popular, they were the pride of the nation, they were loved, known, admired, and money was paid for them. But time passed, the ships gradually became obsolete. Of course, at first they were repaired, but when the Secular Union went downhill, there was no time for ships. Technical and river transport only increased. At some point, it seemed that this area of ​​transportation had virtually no future, at least not in the coming decades.

And a few years ago they launched a program designed to revive the best ships of the Soviet Union - “Rockets”. And together with them, it was decided to invest money in “Comets” and “Meteora”. Despite the rather difficult economic situation in the country, the government was able to allocate money for work to improve transport and modernize ships to meet the needs of modern times. A special program was developed to support ships with wings under water. The year 2016 became important, when the Comet 120M vessel was supposed to demonstrate that the efforts made had not gone to waste.

But was Rocket the first?

Nowadays, few people remember this, but “Rocket” was not the first attempt to create a transport of this type. Even before it, developments were underway that suggested that the best speed performance could be achieved if wings were placed under the ship’s hull. The idea of ​​such a vessel was first born in the 19th century!

Why was it not possible to construct anything sensible before Alekseev did? At first, steam engines were used, the power of which is quite limited. There simply weren't enough of them to reach the speed at which the wings would be truly useful. Therefore, at that stage everything ended with fantasies and assumptions of “how this could be.” However, these were interesting times: the public regularly saw new types of hulls and specific records were set, but months passed and new ships broke them. This race seemed endless. The first ship equipped with wings under water was popularly nicknamed the “frog.” Although it moved quickly, it bounced on the surface of the water and was quite unstable.

High-speed fleet: how was it?

In 1941, in Nizhny Novgorod (which at that time was called Gorky), a thesis devoted to a glider with wings under water was defended at the Industrial Institute. The author of this project was Rostislav Alekseev - the same one who in the future would give Khrushchev a ride around Moscow.

The drawings demonstrated to the commission an excellent vessel with high speed performance. It had to work according to a principle that had never been implemented by anyone before. There was simply nothing like it in the world at that time. To say that the jury was stunned would not even half express their delight and surprise.

Opportunity and conservatism

Protection thesis went “excellent” for Alekseev and inspired him to write a report in which he proposed bringing the project to life. The document was sent to the Navy, and soon a response was received: the schemes were unsuccessful, unacceptable and of no interest to serious designers.

Adult men in the Soviet Navy did not play with toys! Well, at the end they signed something quite flattering for young engineer phrase: “You are too ahead of your time.”

When persistence overcomes disbelief

Others would have given up in Rostislav’s place: there was a war going on, there was no money, the situation was catastrophically difficult, and it was completely impossible to imagine what the immediate future threatened. But the young specialist did not want to give up. Only a year had passed since the refusal letter, and now Alekseev had established contact with Krylov, the chief designer of a plant specializing in water transport. This clever man, able to look into the future, saw the possibility of a breakthrough in the drawings of the newly minted engineer and wanted to take a closer look at them. What followed were several tense years during and shortly after the war. Numerous skeptics criticized the project, but engineers worked tirelessly on it. And in 1957, they finally achieved real success.

The new ship was tested quickly, and immediately after that they headed to the capital, coincidentally during the period of the international festival, which the head of state was supposed to visit. In just 14 hours, the ship arrived at the site, while the river ships used at that time covered this distance in about three days. Well, you already know how the story developed further.

Did Alekseev himself expect such a triumph? Probably yes. Although it was difficult to guess the scale in advance. Are we now waiting for the updated “Rocket” to return to the waterways of our country? Undoubtedly yes. This ship became an important historical and national treasure, and at the same time an excellent vehicle suitable for everyday use.

Central Design Bureau for Hydrofoils named after R. E. Alekseev - the leading Soviet and Russian enterprise in the field of design of ekranoplanes, hydrofoil vessels (HFV), air-cavity vessels (HCV), hovercraft (Hovercraft), boats. Founded on April 17, 1951.

Rocket

"Raketa" is the first Soviet passenger hydrofoil ship. Developed and launched in 1957 at the shipyard of the Krasnoye Sormovo plant (Nizhny Novgorod). Production continued until the mid-1970s. This ship was awarded the Gold Medal at the Brussels Exhibition.

Length: 27 m
Width: 5 m
Height (on wing): 4.5 m
Draft (full): 1.8 m
Operating speed: 35 kz, 60 km/h
Powerplant: 1000 hp. diesel M50
Propulsion: screw
Crew/staff: 3
Passengers: 64

Comet

Comet is a series of marine (the first in this class) passenger hydrofoil motor ships.
Developed in 1961.
They were serially produced in 1964-1981 at the Feodosia shipyard "More" (a total of 86 Komets were built, including 34 for export) and in 1962-1992 at the Poti Shipyard (project 342 ME, 39 ships).
High-speed diesel engines for the ship were supplied by the Leningrad Zvezda plant

Gas turbine ship "Burevestnik".

The gas turbine ship Burevestnik is the fastest type of river transport. Has two engines
from IL-18. In 1964-1979 he worked on the Kuibyshev-Ulyanovsk-Kazan-Gorky route.

Meteor

Unlike the aircraft engines of the Burevestnik, the Meteors flew using diesel engines driving propellers typical of ships.

Gull

It was created in a single copy and carried 70 passengers, but it reached speeds of up to 100 km/h! On the water!

Typhoon

Martin

Polesie

"Polesie" is a type of passenger hydrofoil ship.

The vessels are designed for high-speed passenger transportation during daylight hours with a voyage duration of up to 8 hours, including for shallow reservoirs.

The body is made of aluminum-magnesium alloy. The wing structure consists of bow and stern wings. The front wing has an arrow-shaped plan.

Belarus- river passenger SPK

Colchis

In total, about 40 units of ships of the Colchis type were produced.

Albatross (Katran)

Marine passenger twin-screw hydrofoil motor ship.
A total of 5 motor ships of the Albatross type were produced.

Cyclone

Comet 120M

via

Documentaries:

"Hydrofoil Flight"(Hydrofoil Flight) - To the centenary of Rostislav Alekseev (1916-1980)

"The Comet Enters the Ocean"

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Where did the “winged fleet” go? (Ukraine) 2017

Once the pride of river passenger transport, Meteora and Rocket are now idle on land. Some are either abroad or cut into scrap metal and cannot be restored. However, in Zaporozhye there are masters who are able to breathe new life into an old ship. The only Meteor in Ukraine that can still be revived is undergoing repairs. Vladimir Osadchiy is one of those who does not allow the ship to go into oblivion.

*******
Russia resumed production of high-speed sea passenger hydrofoil ships of the "Kometa" type (2013)

The new generation sea passenger hydrofoil "Kometa 120M" of Project 23160 is designed for high-speed transportation of passengers during daylight hours in cabins equipped with aircraft-type seats.

Operating area:
Seas with a marine tropical climate R3-RSN (hв3% 2.5 m). The distance from the port - refuge in the open seas is up to 50 miles.
Vessel class KM Hydrofoil craft Passenger - A of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.

Seaworthiness:
The movement of the SPK in the wing mode is ensured at wave height hв3% up to 2.0 m and wind up to force 4.
With wave heights hв3% up to 2.5 m and winds up to force 5, safe navigation in displacement mode is ensured.

Meet the hydrofoil - "Voskhod". Hydrofoils are the pride of the Soviet Union. In their production and operation he was a world leader.

A unique ship, practically space)) It was not for nothing that it was classified in the USSR at one time. The ship mainly sailed along rivers, but if necessary, it could also go out to sea, to the coastal zone.

Voskhod has been produced since 1973 at the Krasnoye Sormovo (Nizhny Novgorod, RSFSR) and More (Feodosia, Ukrainian SSR) plants. Engines high-sided diesels from bombers came from the Barnaultransmash and Leningrad Zvezda plants. In total, more than 150 ships were produced.

Passenger capacity over 70 people. Maximum speed- 65 km/h. Operating speed - 62 km/h. Engine power 1000 hp.

But speed on water is not easy. And the speeds of the Voskhod are available only thanks to its shape, the hybridization of an aircraft and a ship. In the photo, the main uniqueness of these ships is the hydrofoil. When a ship accelerates, the wing under the bottom creates lift in the same way as an airplane wing. The ship rises above the water and hovers over it, leaning on its wings. Due to this, the friction force is small and the ship can reach high speed.

Over the course of a year, hydrofoils transported over 20 million people to the USSR.

In the 1970s, more than 40 vessels of this type were in operation in Kyiv.

In addition to Voskhod, the USSR also produced... its predecessors and analogues.

"Rocket" Year of manufacture 1957-1977. About 400 pieces were produced. Speed ​​70km/h. Power 900-1000 hp

"Meteor" Year of manufacture 1961-1991. More than 400 pieces produced. Speed ​​65km/h. Power 1800-2200 hp

"Comet" Year of manufacture 1964-1992. More than 130 pieces were produced. Speed ​​60km/h. Power 2200 hp

"Polesie" Year of manufacture: 1983-1996. 115 units produced. Speed ​​75km/h. Power 1100 hp Able to walk along rivers one meter deep.

The flagship of the Soviet hydrofoils - "Cyclone" - marine double-deck vehicle.

Gas turbine engine with a power of 6,000 hp. Passenger capacity - 250 people. Speed ​​- 70 km/h.

In addition to operating these ships, the USSR also supplied them to foreign markets to countries such as: USA, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Greece, Canada, Austria, Finland, China, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Vietnam, Thailand.

In addition to the above-mentioned ships, small-scale and experimental ships were also produced - Vikhr, Sputnik, Burevestnik, Belarus, Colchis, Katran, Olympia, Chaika, Typhoon and others.

How Voskhody and the company saved lives...

Two Voskhods contaminated with radiation at a cemetery in Pripyat. They participated in the evacuation of residents after the accident...

In 1992, during the war between Georgia and Abkhazia, a military helicopter fired at the Comet on the high seas. One of the missiles hit below the waterline. The crew of the ship, without being confused, turned on the engines at full speed. The "Comet" picked up speed, stood on its wings and, with a hole in the side, which was now above the water level, delivered its 70 passengers safely to the shore.

Thanks to their speed, hydrofoils have more than once come out to rescue the crews and passengers of sinking ships. More than one hundred people were saved by them.

In the USSR, all civilian hydrofoil ships were strategic objects. In the event of hostilities, they were supposed to become high-speed hospitals transporting the wounded from the front line.

Where did the Voskhods and their analogues go? Why did they disappear?

Operating hydrofoil vessels is an expensive pleasure, it is too complex and expensive, this device is for such a great country as Ukraine - great Ukraine itself decided - and in the 90s Ukrrichflot sold off almost the entire river fleet at a low price, and this is about 100 hydrofoil vessels inherited from "damn Sovk"...

Where did you sell it? Abroad.

"Voskhod" in the port of Kiev before leaving for the cordon.

Production of the Volga boat was launched back in 1958. Initially, it was planned to be used exclusively for service in various regions of the country. Inspectors and patrol officers quickly and appreciated the vessel. Serial production for the population was not launched; the boat remained only in the possession of the state. After the collapse of the country and becoming popular among the masses, the boat gained popularity in the field of trips along rivers and seas. The Volga boat is manufactured with hydrofoils to ensure smooth flight and movement even in slight waves.

General description of the boat "Volga"

Previously, the Volga boat could not be purchased for one’s own needs, since, similar to the Chaika car, it could only be owned government organizations. Due to the shortage of such vessels, today the Volga boat is in demand as an excellent retro class transport. The newest boats are those that came out in 1986.

The Volga wing boat was developed by the Krasnoe Sormovo Shipyard and was produced by three factories during the period of active production. The project can be recognized by the identifier - 343. Somewhat later, a similar model was developed that could be used for walking on the sea. In the standard design it was possible to go only to rivers. Marine versions have additional designations ME, MEM, MK.

Production of the Volga boat was launched back in 1958

The characteristics of the Volga hydrofoil boat made it possible to use the vessel for high-speed travel, for transporting large loads or for walking.

The wings in the design are quite deep; they impose certain restrictions on places of use, since on the Volga boat you cannot approach unequipped piers and walk in shallow water. The draft height is 0.85 m. In many photos of the Volga boat, it can be determined that there are only 2 wings: one row is located under the driver’s seat, and the second is at the stern.

Previously, the ship was called “Strela”; this name was valid until 1965. After the renaming, it received the name “Volga”, and unofficially - “Krylatka”, a similar expression still remains among the people.

The engine of the Volga boat may differ in the standard version, since production was carried out in 3 versions:

• "M53F" - 75 liters. With.;
• "M-652-U" - 80 l. With.;
• “M8ChSPU-100” – 90 l. With.

All of the listed types of engines run on gasoline using a 4-stroke system. Most models came with a second engine option, which is sufficient to reach a speed of 65 km/h.

The design is based on aluminum alloy. The method of joining the structure is riveting. Welding was used for individual elements of the body. The length of the vessel is fixed in all modifications and is 8.5 m. The boat has a relatively small cockpit, it can accommodate 6 passengers thanks to the presence of 3 rows of seats, each with a capacity of 2 people.

Hydrofoil boat "Volga"

The bow of the Volga is very elongated and takes up up to 40% of the total space. There is a large engine compartment in the stern, it can carry large loads while maintaining ease of transition to planing.

In river conditions, you can find various versions of the vessel, as many buyers are engaged in design modifications. Today, it is relatively common to see a Volga boat without wings, although it was not possible to make a decent video, but there is an option with removable wings in the video.

Completely restored vessels increasingly feel the need to replace the engine with a more powerful and smaller one. The Volga boat under an outboard engine allows you to speed up the transition to a planing state. For installation outboard motor The transom design will have to be redesigned and the stationary engine model will have to be removed. In modernized models, comfort is significantly improved.

Due to the presence of a long closed bow, part of the cockpit is greatly reduced, but the craftsmen found a way out in creating a cabin-type vessel. High speed The boat's motion has made it popular in the entertainment industry. For tourist purposes, a long deck is installed on the boat, which occupies about 60% of the total area.

By row technical parameters the boat remains competitive today. The case is highly resistant, as the design uses a protective layer of protection consisting of a 4-fold magnesium coating. Additional protection helps prevent corrosion on both the wings and the underbody.

All models of the Volga boat use protectors, but their number depends on the water in which the vessel is intended to be used. For salty, sea water, more protectors are included, and for rivers - less.

The Volga boat under an outboard engine allows you to speed up the transition to planing state

There are several factors why wings are needed on the Volga boat:

• to increase the speed of movement and the speed of transition to planing;
• to reduce water resistance and increase speed;
• to improve seaworthiness, as the wings compensate for pitching and waves.

Hydrofoils also lead to a number of disadvantages:

• high design cost compared to standard displacement vessels;
• when the waves are too large, there is a strong blow to the bottom, and also the wings come out of the water and the ship falls, hitting the bow;
• high demands on engines; they must be relatively light, compact and powerful.

Technical characteristics of the Volga boat

For its time, the ship was one of the fastest, as the speed could reach 70 km/h. Even today, the Volga boat remains a good purchase due to High Quality manufacturing, excellent speed and durability.

Technical characteristics of the Volga hydrofoil boat:

• maximum length – 8.5 m;
• overall width – 1.95 m;
• side height in the midsection area – 0.98 m;
• overall height to the top of the windshield – 1.47 m;

Technical characteristics of the Volga boat

• displacement at load – 1.8 t;
• weight without equipment and passengers – 1.25 tons;
• useful load capacity – 650 kg;
• bottom deadrise in the transom area – 17.8°;
• equipment weight – about 190 kg;
• maximum draft for displacement sailing – 0.85 m;
• draft level when planing on the wings – 0.55 m;
• number of passengers – 5 people;
• availability of separate places for control – 1 pc.;
• maximum autonomous navigation distance – 92 miles;
• main engine – “M-652-U”;
• engine power – 80 l. With.;
• propulsion type – propeller (screw);
• screw size – 0.335 m;
• pitch – 0.538 m;
• disc ratio – 0.75;
• number of blades – 3 pcs.;
• comfortable speed of the boat for operation is 50 km/h;

The Volga boat has 5 passenger seats

• maximum speed – 65 km/h;
• seaworthiness level when sailing on wings – 0.4 m;
• seaworthiness with displacement type of movement - 1 m;
• type of material – Amg5V;
• connection method - welding and riveting.

If we consider the seaworthy version of the Volga ME boat, there are several differences, although most of characteristics remained unchanged.

Features of the boat for the sea:

• the width of the hull was increased to 2.1 m (by 0.15 m);
• the weight of the structure is slightly greater - 1316 kg (by 71 kg);
• maximum cruising distance without refueling – 97 miles;
• Available with several engine types: 75, 80 and 90 hp. With.

What price

You can purchase a Volga boat in standard configuration without tuning or replacing the engine at a relatively low price, which ranges from 230–300 thousand rubles. When installing an outboard engine, the price may increase by 50–100 thousand rubles.