The WIG Page Datasheet no. 25
Orlyonok A90.125
from
The Orlyonok is a large WIG prototype with one Kuznetsov NK-12MK 11000kW turboprop mounted high at the fin for cruise thrust and two Kuznetsov NK-8-4K turbofans of 10.5 ton thrust for PAR, take off, accelerating and landing. Along the trailing edge of the wing a five sectioned flap/aileron is fitted and along the leading edge, close to the wing tips there are special take-off screens. Two hydroskis are mounted at the underside of the fuselage, one in the front, another at the centre of gravity.
The original plans were to build 120 Orlyonoks as troop transport and assault vehicles, but only 4 have been built of which one has been used for static tests only. The first Orlyonok crashed during a VIP demo flight in 1974, this one has been rebuilt with a new alloy. This is the reason why some sources state that 5 Orlyonoks have been built. The first Orlyonok was launched in the Volga river in Autumn 1973. In October 1979 the Orlyonok entered service in the Soviet Navy, where one got lost in a crash in 1992. Unfortunately the crew didn't survive the accident. The last flight of the Orlyonok took place in October 1993. Currently the remaining Orlyonoks are rusting and falling apart at their base, Kaspiisk Naval Air Base.
At least one of the prototypes of the Orlyonok was fitted with a split fuselage freight door, see photo below. There have been plans to modify one of the surviving Orlyonoks as a transport, carrying up to 150 passengers in a single deck layout or up to 350 passengers in a twin deck layout, but regarding their current status this may never happen. A cargo version of the Orlyonok would be able to carry a 30 ton payload over a 1000 km range with 15t of fuel. The Orlyonok was designated Casp B by Western intelligence.
Technical data
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Plan views
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Pictures of Orlyonok A90.125
Click on a picture to see an enlarged version. If you have any other (or better quality) pictures, please contact The WIG Page.
| picture | size (b) | by | description |
 | 23013 | A. Belyaev | Orlyonok taxiing on water |
 | 6702 | A. Belyaev | Orlyonok buried in its own spray |
 | 54741 | A. Belyaev | Front view of Orlyonok on a platform |
 | 23698 | A. Belyaev | Rear view of Orlyonok on a platform |
 | 19405 | A. Belyaev | Orlyonok taxiing on water |
 | 48904 | A. Belyaev | Orlyonok coming ashore |
 | 6475 | A. Belyaev | Orlyonok in cruise |
 | 6550 | A. Belyaev | Orlyonok at take-off |
 | 28843 | A. Belyaev | Wreck of an Orlyonok hull which was used for static load testing |
 | 34408 | A. Belyaev | Wreck of an Orlyonok hull which was used for static load testing |
 | 68174 | A. Belyaev | Orlyonok coming ashore |
 | 70634 | A. Belyaev | Orlyonok in cruise |
 | 24394 | A. Belyaev | Orlyonok in cruise |
 | 29723 | A. Belyaev | Orlyonok in cruise |
 | 53466 | A. Belyaev | Two Orlyonoks in cruise |
 | 51431 | A. Belyaev | Three Orlyonoks on a platform |
 | 12945 | A. Belyaev | Orlyonok in cruise |
 | 10605 | A. Belyaev | Orlyonok in cruise |
 | 14383 | A. Belyaev | Orlyonok in cruise |
 | 74098 | A. Belyaev | Orlyonok in cruise - recognise the picture? |
 | 13378 | | Artists impression of a passenger carrying derivative of Orlyonok |
 | 58294 | A. Belyaev | Front view of Orlyenok on a platform - the old WIG Page logo! |
 | 20431 | A. Belyaev | Orlyonok with open freight door |
 | 8615 | Caz Dalton | Static model of Orlyonok |
 | 14785 | A. Belyaev | Rare picture of Orlyonok in cruise with extended hydroski, just before landing |
 | 25692 | A. Belyaev | Front view of Orlyonok on PAR |
 | 48688 | A. Belyaev | Turning Orlyonok with wingtip touching the surface |
 | 24735 | A. Belyaev | Top view of Orlyonok in displacement |
 | 40763 | A. Panchenko | Two Orlyonoks on a platform |
 | 20380 | A. Belyaev | Orlyonok showing its nose door |
 | 6399 | A. Panchenko | Static model of Orlyonok |
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Movies of Orlyonok A90.125
The WIG Page thanks SUPAERO in Toulouse, France for supplying server space for the movies:
Please click on the picture to view or download the movie. If you have any other movies that you would like to see here, please contact Stéphan
at SE Techonolgy who manages the movies section of this site. Please note that you need an MPEG-4 compatible decoder to view the movies.
| movie | size (kb) | remarks |
 | 930 | Orlyonok in flaring mode over the Caspian Sea. This movies shows a lot about the little Eagle (or Casp. B) like the contra-rotative tail propellers and give a good idea of the impression it would have made seen it from another Eaglet.
Notice once again the stepped endplates for reducing hydrodynamic drag.
Movie provided by: D. N. Sinitsyn - EAGES |
 | 958 | Orlyonok is doing a turn seen from above. A bit of roll is used here to help. Then the camera moves closer and her nose engines intakes can be clearly seen. Then she passes and one discovers her beautiful swept back tail that was so huge to allow her free filght.
Movie provided by: D. N. Sinitsyn - EAGES |
 | 1124 | After a flight, Orlyonok reaches back the sea. An extraordinary landing sequence where, on the second scene, the hydrosky is used for landing (look under the craft - sorry cut a bit because of the length of the sequence) then Orlyonok uses all her Power Augmentation to move slowly to the beach - this sequence shows the extremely interesting potential of a big Ekranoplan and why the CIA was so upset with them !
Movie provided by: D. N. Sinitsyn - EAGES |
 | 708 | After a (very) long while, the movies section has been updated. I would like to thank Benjamin Silvestre here. oh yes... the movie...
Again my favorite Orlyonok taking off from the land and passing slowly... Enjoy !
Movie provided by: D.N. Synitsin - EAGES |
 | 708 | What does it feel like riding the Orlyonok ?
Here is the answer, plus an extra close flare !
Movie provided by: D.N. Synitsin - EAGES |
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