Strange Airplanes You Never Knew Existed

When United States intelligence services got pictures of this Soviet seaplane sitting in the Caspian Sea, they had so little idea of what they were looking at that, they just called it the Caspian Sea Monster. Called an Ekranoplan by the Soviets, this monster was a hybrid ship/airplane/missile launcher that defies all classification.

The Lun uses the ground effect, an aerodynamic phenomenon where airplanes flying close to water or the ground are able to create an air cushion underneath them for lift. To use the ground effect, you have to fly really low, and the Lun flew only a few feet above the Caspian Sea.

In combat operations, the Lun could carry combat troops into battle, roaring 16 feet above the water at 350 miles per hour. Since the Lun was bigger than any modern airliner, that would have been a terrifying sight. Beyond its transport capabilities, the Lun also had six nuclear missile launchers on its back that could launch in-flight.

As impressive as the Lun was, it had significant drawbacks — namely, it was one of the least-maneuverable airplanes ever designed, and could only take off into the wind. Testing cancelled when the Cold War ended, and the poor Lun is now rotting away in a Russian dry dock. If, for some reason, you ever find yourself in Kaspiysk, Russia, go check it out.