The rapid flight of the "Caspian Monster" over waves would leave
anyone awestruck! In a PURSUIT OF SPEED The important quality of
speed was, in all times, the object of the steadfast attention
of ship-builders. But the increase of speed for ships was
limited by quickly growing hydrodynamic resistance in the case
of an insufficient capacity sail and oar movement. This
restriction was removed with the introduction on ships of
mechanical engines in the middle or the end of the
superstructure, but the situation did not change , even for
ships at the beginning of the Nineteenth century. But speed
could only go so far in any case, and even nuclear powered ships
of the Twentieth century concede little to steamships. The trick
in speed was connected to idea to lift the keel of a vessel from
water to air, an environment 840 times less dense. The main
obstacle, growth of resistance of water, disappeared. The chief
designer CKB on VOUW R. E. Alekseyev (at the left) was first
pilot of all machines developed by him. In 19