The idea of creating a hydrofoil river ship appeared at the end of the 19th century back in France. The designers of that time tested an inconceivable amount of swimming equipment of the most fantastic outlines. Already at that time, sufficiently powerful engines and material were developed from which it was possible to build a body.
But the built models categorically did not want to fly above the water. They lacked stability and speed to disperse. Already in Soviet times, after the revolution, a student of the Polytech Rostislav Alekseev was fascinated by a futuristic article about the future of the fleet. About ships that can sail hovering over water like birds. And he was captured by this idea. Flying ship ... How to get viscous, dense water to let go of a heavy structure? After all, its hydrodynamic force muffles the speed of any ship, even the fastest! These are the properties of water. Rostislav, on the other hand, began precisely with the wings and developed their special shape. And with success, he defends a diploma on the subject "Glider on hydrofoils."
The creator of "Sunrise" Rostislav Alekseev
So for the first time the future legendary creator of unusual ships declared themselves, capable on their wings to develop speed inaccessible to other similar watercraft. The commission was interested in the topic of the diploma, it looked very much like a candidate dissertation, there was so much realism and, it seemed, simplicity in it. During the war years, Rostislav Alekseev worked at a factory where tanks were assembled and repaired, but the thought of creating unique ships on his wings did not leave him. And the first boat, built according to the drawings of a young designer, appeared in Moscow in 1946.
He appeared numerous supporters and like-minded people who enthusiastically supported the idea of Rostislav. For several years, drawings of high-speed vessels were developed and production was established. In 1957, the serial production of ships on the wings of the Rocket series began. Based on these drawings, in the following years many modifications were created, and the Voskhod series of motor ships is one of them.
Favorite brainchild of the whole country
The ship "Voskhod" is the second generation of the SEC and the direct successor to the stunning qualities of the "Rocket". In 1973, the first copy of the new series came to the water to replace obsolete models. The technical characteristics of the Voskhod motor ship were significantly improved, and it was originally built for use in the river fleet. But time has shown that Voskhod can successfully operate in marine areas off the coast.
Many models of this series were used in the Crimea for walks and excursions by sea. Demand for them increased, and motor ships began to be built for the whole country. Engines were supplied from Leningrad and Barnaul, and ships were assembled entirely at the More factory in Feodosia. The Voskhod motor ship itself was a small vessel, its length was a little over 27 meters and its width was 6.4 meters. Therefore, it was used as a pleasure boat most often.
Cruise ship for lakes, seas and rivers
On each of the ships stood an engine of 1000 liters. pp., but in terms of the amount of fuel consumed, it could only be compared with aircraft. And the very moment of placing the vessel on the wing at the cost of fuel was equal to the launch of the Soyuz-1 spacecraft. Nevertheless, they were still built. There were few high-quality roads in the USSR; because of this, the riverbed was often intensively used for movement on such boats. Maybe that's why the river fleet in the Union was developing so rapidly. By 1990, more than 150 motor ships of this series were built.
Such an amount did a good job. They were used mainly as passenger recreational vehicles on small river and sea cruises, in scheduled routes instead of buses and trains. The winged ship was especially loved by children, it was admired. The ship attracted special attention in the Crimea, from a distance it looked like an alien ship, and each Soviet vacationer had a photo from the ship "Voskhod" in his family album.
"Sunrise" in our time
These ships were operated on lakes, rivers, seas of the entire Soviet Union. In addition to the team, a little more than 70 people could be transported on the river handsome. The Voskhod motor ship still carries out one-day excursions along several routes on Lake Baikal. They are satisfied with the purpose of familiarizing themselves with the beauties of Lake Baikal and the territories adjacent to it.
Flight Irkutsk - Taltsy - Big Cats - Irkutsk gives you the opportunity to visit the fabulous and stunningly beautiful places of Baikal and the Angara. While parking there is time for horseback riding and visiting the Museum of Local Lore. On the boat, however, there is no open area, but still such trips are very popular. There is a "Sunrise" in the Samara River Shipping Company, they are used for regular flights where it is not very convenient to use vehicles. They are also found in Petrozavodsk, Krasnoyarsk and in other cities of our vast country.
Characteristics of the ship and durability
The maximum speed of river transport in this series is 65 km / h, which is a good indicator for a vessel engaged in passenger transportation and excursions. On the river, ships with the characteristics of the Voskhod motor ship are not so often found. Its displacement is 28 tons, it has the river register class "O". This means that the main purpose is inland water basins, river mouths, reservoirs, marine coastal zones with a wave height of not more than 2 meters.
And despite the fact that the last copy was built in 1991, the quality of the vessels remaining afloat is good, they were made honestly, and even after the repair they brought considerable benefit to their owners. The durability is also explained by the fact that the body was welded from a durable aluminum-magnesium alloy, which does not lend itself to corrosion. Rivets were no longer used in 1973, and the wings were made of stainless steel and could be used for decades with proper care.
Tireless Workers on the Water
After the collapse of the Union, the construction of unique ships almost stopped. Some of the obsolete specimens were cut into metal; more modern models were bought with pleasure by the owners of river companies for the commercial transport of passengers. Those that remained in Russia still serve faithfully after repairs and upgrades. So, Voskhod-23 has been working tirelessly in St. Petersburg since 2011.
It was converted into a tour, and now on it you can go on a weekend along the standard route from St. Petersburg to Strelna or Kronstadt. Panoramic windows allow you to watch the picturesque landscapes of the Gulf of Finland in comfortable aircraft seats. Even significant speed does not interfere with relaxing and getting incomparable pleasure. These vessels are also offered for rent for walks with all your friendly staff or with friends. It is worth paying attention that you can go swimming only in the daytime.
Worldwide popularity of a ship on wings
Even in Soviet times, the passenger ship "Voskhod" was popular not only at home, but also abroad. These vessels were delivered to 18 countries around the world. They practically did not undergo alterations, the technical characteristics of this series were so good. Smallness attracted buyers, which was especially helpful in small water spaces. The capacity of the ship "Voskhod" was no more than 80 people, it was successful, because it is almost a bus, and they were often bought to replace vehicles.
Already in 2002, after a long break, three more Voskhod were built at the shipyard at the request of the river company Connexxion. A boat with a rather complicated aerobatics can be controlled by a team of two or three people, this quality is also taken into account when buying. Motor ships of the Sunrise series were sold to Canada, Vietnam, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Turkey, Thailand, and Hungary. Some of them are still floating and working properly.
Memories of the legendary ship
Many remember these winged ships, especially those whose youth fell during the existence of the Soviet Union. The motor ship "Voskhod" receives good reviews for speed, convenience, beauty and unusualness. For some, this is a warm childhood memory when, under the Crimean sun, on the wet sand, the contours of these ships were drawn. And then, with delight, they waved a hand as a car rushed past. Even now, after numerous repairs, these ships are winning the hearts of those who met them in the 2000s.