Flying Saucer Financial Problems Viewed

This document is a translated press article from the Russian newspaper IZVESTIYA, dated July 14, 1993. It details the development of a 'flying saucer' aircraft by the Ekip firm, based at the Saratov Aircraft Plant. The article describes the vehicle as a highly economical flying apparatus that utilizes a combination of surface effect and air cushion technology. According to Ekip president Anatoliy Savitskiy and general designer Lev Shchukin, the craft is designed for heavy cargo transport, capable of carrying a load equal to nearly half its own weight. The article notes that an experimental model with a 2.5-meter diameter was tested at the plant's airfield the previous summer. However, the project has faced significant delays due to a lack of funding, which postponed the test flight of the actual apparatus. The director of the Saratov plant, Aleksandr Yermishin, expresses optimism about the project's future despite the economic challenges following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The article concludes by noting that a full-scale 120-tonne version, with a 25-meter diameter, is estimated to cost approximately $70 million, and that several foreign firms have expressed interest in participating in its development.