The boat "Meteor" is a river passenger ship. It is a hydrofoil vessel. It was developed by Russian shipbuilder Rostislav Alekseev.
History of "Meteor"
The boat "Meteor" dates back to 1959. It was then that the first such experimental ship was launched. Sea trials took place for almost three weeks. Within their framework, the very first boat "Meteor" covered the distance from Gorky to Feodosia. The ship was built at a factory called Krasnoye Sormovo.
In Feodosia "Meteor" wintered. He set off on his return journey only in the spring of 1960. This time it took him five days to sail from Feodosia to Gorky. The tests were considered successful by all participants.
Serial production
The characteristics of the ship suited everyone, so already in 1961 it was put into mass production. It was established at the Gorky shipyard, which was located in Zelenodolsk. Over 30 years, more than 400 ships from this series have been produced here.
At the same time, the designthe bureau did not stand still. New, improved versions are constantly being developed. So, the Nizhny Novgorod designers proposed to make the "Meteor" on hydrofoils. In this case, imported engines and air conditioners were used. The history of this ship ended only in 2007, when the line was finally dismantled, rebuilt for a new class of motor ships.
Inventor of the Meteor
The shipbuilder Rostislav Alekseev is considered to be the creator of the boat "Meteor". In addition to air-winged ships, his merit is the appearance in our country of ekranoplanes (high-speed vehicles flying in the area of the aerodynamic screen) and ekranoplanes (using the ground effect for flights).
Alekseev was born in the Chernihiv province back in 1916. In 1933 he moved with his family to Gorky, where he developed a successful working career. He graduated from the Industrial Institute, defended his thesis on hydrofoil gliders. Started working as a shipbuilding engineer.
During the Great Patriotic War, he was given resources and people to create combat hydrofoil boats. The leadership of the Soviet Navy believed in his idea. True, their creation was delayed, so they did not have time to take part directly in hostilities. But the resulting models convinced skeptics of the possibility of implementing this project.
Work on "Meteor"
"Meteor" on submarineswings, a group of scientists began to develop under the leadership of Alekseev. Initially, it received the symbolic name "Rocket".
The world community became aware of this project in 1957. The ship was presented at the International Festival of Youth and Students, which was held in Moscow. After that, active shipbuilding began. In addition to the boat "Meteor", the technical characteristics of which turned out to be impressive, projects were created under the names "Petrel", "Volga", "Voskhod", "Sputnik" and "Kometa".
In the 60s, Alekseev created an ekranoplan for the navy and a separate project for the airborne troops. If the flight altitude of the first was only a few meters, then the second could rise to a height comparable to airplanes - up to seven and a half kilometers.
In the 70s, Alekseev received an order for the landing ekranolet "Eaglet". In 1979, for the first time in the world, an ekranolet ship was adopted by the Navy as an official combat unit. Alekseev himself regularly tested his vehicles. In January 1980, while testing a new model of a passenger civil ekranolet, which was supposed to be completed by the Moscow Olympics, it crashed. Alekseev survived, but received numerous injuries. He was urgently hospitalized. Doctors fought for his life, two operations were performed. But on February 9, he still died. He was 63 years old.
Hydrofoils
"Meteor" on hydrofoils is a vivid example of ships of this class. It has hydrofoils under the hull.
Among the advantages of such aircraft are high speed of movement, low resistance when moving on wings, insensitivity to rolling and high maneuverability.
At the same time, they also have significant drawbacks. Their main disadvantage is low efficiency, especially compared to low-speed displacement ships, while they start having problems when the water is rough. In addition, they are not adapted to unequipped parking, and for movement they need powerful and compact engines at the same time.
Description of "Meteor"
"Meteor" is a hydrofoil ship designed for high-speed transportation of passengers. He runs on diesel, he is single-deck. Used exclusively during daylight hours on navigable rivers. It is also possible to move through freshwater reservoirs and lakes, but only in areas with a predominantly temperate climate. It is controlled remotely, its movement is controlled directly from the wheelhouse.
Passengers are in three cabins with comfortable and soft chairs. They are located in the bow, middle and stern parts of the vessel. A total of 114 passengers fit. Movement between parts of the ship is carried out through the deck, from which doors lead to the toilet, utility rooms and engine room. The average salon even has a buffet for those who want to refresh themselves.
The wing device includes load-bearing wings and flaps. They are fixed on the sides and bottom racks.
The main engines are two diesel engines. At the same time, for servicing the power plant, a combined unit is required, consisting of a diesel engine with a capacity of up to 12 horsepower. The mechanical plant is controlled from the wheelhouse and engine room.
Power supply of the ship
"Meteor" is a ship for which two running DC generators are considered the main source of electricity. Their power is one kilowatt at a stable and normal voltage.
There is also an automatic machine for the simultaneous operation of batteries and a generator. There is also an auxiliary generator that is used directly to power consumers.
Specifications
The passenger ship "Meteor" has enviable technical characteristics. The empty displacement is 36.4 tons, and the full displacement is 53.4 tons.
The length of the vessel is 34.6 meters, the width is nine and a half meters with a hydrofoil span. Standing height - 5.63 meters, while on wings - 6.78 meters.
Draft also differs when standing and running on wings. In the first case, 2.35 meters, in the second - 1.2 meters. Power varies from 1,800 to 2,200 horsepower. The speed of the boat "Meteor" can reach a maximum of 77 kilometers per hour, as a rule, it is operated at a speed of 60-65kilometers per hour. The vessel can sail autonomously for about 600 kilometers.
One of the disadvantages of the Meteor is fuel consumption. Initially, it was about 225 liters per hour, but thanks to the use of new modern engines, today it can be significantly reduced - by about 50 liters of fuel per hour.
The crew is small - only three people.
Meteor distribution countries
Currently, the mass production of "Meteors" is terminated, so new ships of this type no longer appear. But their operation continues today. In particular, they are used by the river fleet of the Russian Federation, they are also common in other countries.
Still seen in Hungary, Greece, Vietnam, Italy, Egypt, China, Kazakhstan, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
These river hydrofoils were actively used in Bulgaria until about 1990, in Latvia until 1988, in Ukraine until 2000, in the Netherlands until 2004, and in Germany until 2008. Now in these countries they replaced by more modern vehicles.
Safe travel
Fascinating river trips and walks are organized today using the "Meteor". Safety on the ship for passengers is guaranteed by a special control system and regular thorough maintenance of all devices and mechanisms. Therefore, we can say with confidence that you do not risk anything by sailing on the Meteor.
You can ride this riverboat in differentcorners of the country. For example, excursions from St. Petersburg to Peterhof and back are very popular today. The motor ship sets off on a journey through the picturesque places of the Neva, tourists can enjoy the amazing beauties of Northern Palmyra. Moreover, everything is done for the convenience of people, it is not even necessary to spend time in line at the box office, it is enough to purchase a ticket online.
This high-speed river boat will delight you with a smooth ride, which is provided by powerful and reliable modern engines. On board each ship there are systems of radio navigation control, communications and air conditioning.
In three comfortable cabins, passengers are protected from any vagaries of nature. In soft armchairs that take the form of a tourist, they can fully relax, have a bite to eat, using the folding wooden tables hidden in the armrests.
There are also round tables made of natural wood between the chairs, which are much larger. They will come in handy if you are traveling with a friendly company along the way.
Tourist service
It is worth noting that today these vehicles are mainly used for tourism purposes. Therefore, they organize the most comfortable pastime. Great attention is paid to the service.
Companies organizing such river cruises provide a full range of services, providing for everything that a vacationer may need. For example, tourist services, which include not only the transportation and accommodation of passengers, but also the organization of good nutrition, excitingentertainment programs and educational excursions.
Using a convenient form for ordering tickets for these river boats on the Internet, you will not only save time, but also fully enjoy an unforgettable trip along the great rivers of Russia.
Interesting facts about Meteor
A lot of fascinating and useful facts are devoted to the Meteor ship, which will not only expand your horizons, but also make the trip on this ship even more exciting.
Most of them are collected in a book called "Winged Vessels of Russia", which combines all the most interesting things about this unusual type of water transport.
For example, one of the captains of the ship "Meteor", which moved on hydrofoils, was the famous Hero of the Soviet Union, a participant in the Great Patriotic War, Mikhail Devyatayev. Fighting against the Nazi invaders, he was captured, but managed to free himself and even hijack an enemy bomber.
Successful escape was carried out in February 1945 from a concentration camp located in Germany.
And in 1960, the new ship was shown to the leader of the Soviet Union, Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev. The famous aircraft designer Andrei Tupolev, who was present at the same time, was so impressed by what he saw that he even asked the main developer, Alekseev, for permission to jointly manage the ship.
Today, the Meteor was replaced by the Lena passenger ship, which is also produced at the shipyard inZelenodolsk. In the future, this project is being developed at a shipyard located in Khabarovsk. It is capable of covering a distance of 650 kilometers. At the same time, it develops an average speed of up to 70 kilometers per hour. Can accommodate 100 passengers or 50 with VIP accommodation. And the crew is only 5 people.
