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Russian designer Yuri Usoltsev created the experimental R-01 Robert WIG aircraft in 1989 as a tribute to the great Roberto Bartini, one of the fathers of the ekranoplane, whose work was instrumental to design bureaus such as those of Beriev or Alekseyev. And like Bartini, he built his prototype in Taganrog, where Bartini created all his sea giants.
The R-01 is also reminiscent of some of Lippisch's WIG designs. It was sometimes publicized under the brand name Красные Крылья ("Krasneye Krylia", or "Red Wings"), although this cannot be considered like a real company, probably only a small design bureau.
A second prototype was built, the R-02 Robert, which was very similar to the R-01 but featured an enclosed cockpit and straight wings.
Usoltsev planned to develop a larger, twin-engined development, the R-50 Robert, but this remained a project, presumably for lack of funds. Two different proposals appear in model form in the attachments below.
I find it very hard to find any documentation on the Usoltsev designs, especially in English, so if you have any articles, or different photos, I'd love to see them!
The R-01 is also reminiscent of some of Lippisch's WIG designs. It was sometimes publicized under the brand name Красные Крылья ("Krasneye Krylia", or "Red Wings"), although this cannot be considered like a real company, probably only a small design bureau.
A second prototype was built, the R-02 Robert, which was very similar to the R-01 but featured an enclosed cockpit and straight wings.
Usoltsev planned to develop a larger, twin-engined development, the R-50 Robert, but this remained a project, presumably for lack of funds. Two different proposals appear in model form in the attachments below.
I find it very hard to find any documentation on the Usoltsev designs, especially in English, so if you have any articles, or different photos, I'd love to see them!
