Disaster Response Aircraft Query

[Cobra]

Hey Guys, a Thought that's been kinda Bugging Me I Finally Decided to Ask:What If Someone Converted an Airliner like a 747,A380,Etc. into a Disaster Response Aircraft? I'm talking like an Airborne Command Post for Getting Rescue teams to Disaster Sites,Etc.  Think That would work as a WHIF?  i got Inspired by a few Things,Including Seeing Planes like the AWACS & that got me to Thinking about it. What say You? Thanks for looking.Dan

[raafif]

Dan,
     following the failure of the Russian "Loon" giant ekranoplan program (failing Russian economy) it was suggested that the 2nd prototype be converted into a sea-rescue aircraft with on-board hospital & operating rooms.  It could have operated in Sea-State-5 (near Cyclonic) conditions from memory.

[deathjester]

Would this be a good case for the Nuclear Powered Airborne Aircraft Carrier, configured to carry VTOL aircraft to deliver aid and rescue teams, then orbit the area so as to provide hospital support?

Would make getting help to mountainous areas much easier....

[raafif]

more on Lun ...
The 2nd prototype of the Lun (slightly larger than a 747) was 80% completed when the project was stalled -- instead there was an idea to complete it as the Spasatel (pronounced Spa-sah-tel), which means "Rescue Worker", for ocean rescues with a crew of 300, hospital wards, operating rooms, rescue equipment and accommodation for 500 survivors -- it would be able to operate in Sea State 5 ocean storms.
The first Lun is currently laid-up in outside storage, the 2nd prototype is currently moth-balled.

When a member of the US agency DARPA spotted the first Russian Ekranoplan (the "Caspian SeaMonster") on its way to its first-flight, he resigned to start his own company -- America calls these designs "Wingships" -- the US design below won't work as it fails in several areas of hydro-dynamics required for take-off.

While seen as a replacement for the hydro-foil, the whole Ekranoplan / Wingship idea has pretty much died due to commercial cost (& need for special metals) --  would make a great "what-might-have-been" - -start with an A-380 fuselage ....


The Russians have started work on a new idea of very-strange aerodynamics called EKIP that allows a bread-bin shaped aircraft with enormous interior space to fly economically & land at extremely slow speeds -- full-scale models have flown.